Jari-Matti Latvala has a firm view on the future of rallying – “Honestly speaking”

Rally In the future, car manufacturers competing in the World Championship will be able to decide even more freely what kind of technology-driven power source they want to use in their cars.

It is planned that, according to the rules that will come into force in 2027, the teams could decide for themselves whether they use only a combustion engine, hybrid technology or fully electric drives in their cars in the main class of the World Championship.

Toyota team manager Jari-Matti Latvala considers the idea good in principle, but believes that internal combustion engine technology will roll on the rally tracks.

“It’s great that there are freedoms if someone wants, for example, to market an all-electric car in this way.”

“But you have to be careful not to try to balance the competition with, for example, artificial extra weights. An electric car with batteries is basically heavier than a similar combustion engine car, but I don’t see additional weight for a combustion engine car as a solution in such a case,” says Latvala.

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Nobody will come to watch the rally in the forest if we only drive electric cars.

Latvala estimates that the direction of the rally is still in combustion engine cars and more environmentally friendly fuels.

“No one will come to watch the rally in the forest if we only drive electric cars. Voice and feeling are needed. It still works if some drive with full electricity. But to be honest, I don’t think that the use of full electric power would be the first option for any manufacturer in the World Rally Championship.”

According to the FIA, the International Automobile Federation, the fuel used in the World Rally Championship recently is a mixture of “synthetic and biofuel components”.

In connection with the 2027 rule reform news, it has been said that in the case of internal combustion engine technology and hybrid technology, “one hundred percent sustainable development fuel” would be used in the World Series.

In the overall picture the discussion is strongly related to the fact that the automotive industry is living in the midst of a green transition from a transition and rallying should also adapt to the change.

Car manufacturers need to justify their participation and investment in motorsport more precisely than before.

In the 2027 rules, cost restrictions are also planned for certain car parts in order to make the World Rally Championship cheaper.

“Tube-framed cars will remain in the World Series also from 2027 onwards. The manufacturing process is being improved and made more efficient so that cars can be made faster and cheaper. For example, aerodynamics and carbon fiber parts will probably be eliminated,” says Latvala.

Rally The World Series has been looking for new car manufacturers for some time. The series would need more car brands to remain vibrant and competitive.

Last season, two factory teams competed in the World Championship, i.e. the Japanese Toyota and the South Korean Hyundai, as well as the M-Sport team supported by Ford.

One of the problems of the World Series has been seen to be that the main class cars and their maintenance are too expensive.

Last season, the main class was competed with Rally1 hybrid cars, which are electrically assisted combustion engine cars. According to estimates, one Rally1 car costs around one million euros without VAT. The hybrid system will be removed from the top-class cars of the World Championship as early as next year.

According to rough estimates, the cars of 2027 would cost around 400,000 euros.

“If a Rally1 car, i.e. a top-class car, was around half a million euros from 2027, then it would probably be a reasonable price range and still a great racing car,” says Latvala.

With this information, the International Automobile Federation FIA has aimed for the same level of speed for 2027 as the WRC cars in the main class of the World Championship had in 2011–2016.

At that time, cars with an output of 300 horsepower were initially announced in the main class, but there was talk of slightly higher outputs during the regular season.

According to Latvala, the 2025 cars have a power of around 350–380 horsepower, so the powers will drop for the 2027 season.