Hyundai and Toyota face uncertainty over 2027 World Rally Championship plans

Hyundai has not confirmed a new WRC car for the 2027 season, leaving its participation open. The team’s sport director, Andrew Wheatley, said a new car is not an option yet and the company may partner with a private outfit to run Rally2‑spec cars, while much of its resources are being shifted to the Genesis endurance programme, which recently debuted in the WEC and Le Mans.

Toyota is actively testing a prototype built to the 2027 regulations, using a chassis that blends Rally2 dimensions with a Rally1‑type body. With driver Ott Tänak replacing Sébastien Ogier, the focus is on aerodynamic tweaks, as mechanical components remain largely unchanged. Finnish rally veteran Jari‑Matti Latvala notes the new cars will compete directly with Rally2 machines, and expects the Rally2 platform to be highly competitive under varied conditions.

Both manufacturers are evaluating opportunities and costs as the 2027 WRC regulations approach, with decisions expected after internal assessments and cost‑benefit analyses.