Undertaking Rally One has publicly unveiled its new WRC27 automotive for the primary time, marking a serious step in the direction of its deliberate FIA World Rally Championship debut in 2027.
Led by motorsport engineer Lionel Hansen, Undertaking Rally One is the primary privately led constructor mission that has been manufactured below the WRC27 laws, which opens the championship’s prime class to unbiased tuners in addition to conventional producers.
5 days and 750km of preliminary tarmac improvement work was carried out by Bruno Thiry and Stéphane Lefebvre. Newly topped ERC Champion Teemu Suninen is about to take over driving duties when the testing programme switches to gravel in October.
“As soon as homologation has been accomplished, we are going to proceed with additional take a look at classes, once more on asphalt subsequent week, earlier than transferring onto gravel in October,” mentioned the mission chief Lionel Hansen.
“This implies we’re on schedule, and our goal stays to enter two Rally One automobiles on the 2027 Rallye Monte-Carlo.
“It’s a demanding problem, however it stays a sensible one. There’s nonetheless loads to occur between at times.”
Below the bonnet, the automotive makes use of a VAG Group-badged engine associated to the unit discovered within the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, extensively modified to satisfy the necessities of the WRC27 laws. Its bespoke bodywork has been developed and constructed by Paris-based Sooner Racing.
WRC Promotor’s COO Julien Vial added: “Undertaking Rally One is an thrilling instance of the ambition that WRC is attracting because the championship continues to evolve,” he mentioned.
“What is especially spectacular is seeing one thing created successfully from a clean sheet – bringing collectively the technical programme, the individuals, the companions and a brand new id. Getting a mission like this from an thought to a bodily automotive requires vital dedication, funding and perception from everybody concerned.
“For us, that is about greater than merely having one other automotive on the phases. We would like WRC to proceed to be a lovely atmosphere for established producers and groups, but in addition for bold newcomers that may convey contemporary concepts, new tales and new alternatives for manufacturers and companions. Undertaking Rally One is a really tangible instance of that.”
Pictures: WRC.com
