Exclusive Insight: Top Brass Reveals Bold Plans, Dismisses ‘Jokers,’ and Fires a Warning Shot on Cost-Capped Rallying.
Hyundai Motorsport is on the cusp of launching a major overhaul of its customer rallying efforts, targeting a brand-new Rally2 car for 2027. But while the technical ambition is clearly defined, the green light for the project rests on a surprisingly simple obstacle: the budget.
In a candid address, a key Hyundai figure—referencing team principal Cyril Abiteboul’s previous comments—laid bare the team’s commitment to continuous improvement, while offering a telling glimpse into the future of cost-controlled rallying.
The 2027 Vision: A New Era
The push for a completely new car is not just a passing thought; it’s a strategic imperative. The official revealed that current regulations allow the team to “re-homologate a complete new car—even if it will be only in 2027,” giving them the freedom to commit to a bold design.
“The target will be always improving our products, show our commitment,” the source stated, emphasizing that for now, they don’t have to “really pay attention to the jokers,” which are the limited opportunities to upgrade an existing homologated model.
Minor improvements for the current Rally2 will still be announced for 2026, but the focus is clearly shifting to the distant horizon.
The Last Barrier
Despite the clear vision, the team is facing a final hurdle: securing the necessary funds.
“The only objection is the budget,” the official admitted. “So, we are still working on consolidating the budget for 2026. I would say that it is the last barrier to do the [2027] evolution now. I think we can be really optimistic.”
This optimistic outlook suggests that the new car is not a matter of ‘if,’ but ‘when’ the funding is fully secured.
Rally2: The Foundation for WRC Future?
The new 2027 Rally2 car also carries a wider implication for Hyundai’s top-tier World Rally Championship (WRC) program.
“It’s clear, and Cyril already mentioned it, that if Hyundai will carry on the WRC adventure in ’27, we’ll have to use the Rally2,” the source explained. This suggests the new customer car could be almost “mandatory to be ready with a top car in 2027” if the WRC program continues.
However, the team principal was quick to stress that the decision to build a new Rally2 is first and foremost about their customers.
“The decision is not driven by what will be or what will not be the top tier program—first of all, we want to carry on to improve the performance of the Rally2 for our current customers. It is the first and main target at the moment.”
The Hidden Trap of the Cost Cap
The conversation took a sharp turn when discussing the proposal for a cost-capped WRC car set at €345,000. While the initial price seems “really achievable,” Hyundai fired a clear warning shot about the true financial threat to customer teams: the running costs.
“It’s maybe OK to build a car for €345,000 euros, but maybe on those €345,000 cars, if a door costs €10,000, this is not acceptable in the customer world,” the representative asserted.
This is a critical distinction that manufacturers and regulators must address. Rally2, the backbone of customer rallying, relies on accessible, manageable running costs.
The focus must shift from the car’s initial sticker price to the day-to-day expenditure on essential, consumable parts:
- Dampers: A major wear item.
- Under-protection: Constantly battered by rally stages.
“We consume all those parts quite a lot on Rally2. And we have to be cost efficient,” the official concluded.
The message is clear: the success of the new era of rallying hinges not on the headline cost-cap figure, but on ensuring rally is both fast and financially sustainable for the teams that buy and run the cars. The 2027 Rally2 car is set to be Hyundai’s answer to this challenge—once the final ‘barrier’ falls.
What are your thoughts on the €345,000 cost cap? Should running costs be the main focus of regulation?
