Hyundai Aims for 2026 WRC Debut, Faces Uncertainty for 2027

Hyundai has signaled it is preparing to compete in the World Rally Championship through the end of 2026. The company’s participation in rallying’s highest level has faced speculation since Hyundai outlined plans in 2023 to join the World Endurance Championship, starting with the Genesis brand from 2026.

These plans sparked questions over the manufacturer’s long-term future in the WRC, with rumors suggesting the Rally1 top class could be dropped a year early if Hyundai chose to leave before the end of Rally1’s planned five-year cycle.

At Rally Portugal last month, Hyundai company president and WRC team principal Cyril Abiteboul shared his belief that Hyundai would keep racing through the 2026 season. He addressed the topic again at Rally Sardinia, mentioning that the team is following the WRC’s current cycle and expects a decision to be confirmed soon.

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If Hyundai commits for 2026, Rally1 regulations will finish their intended five-year span before new WRC27 technical rules arrive.

Hyundai’s participation after 2026, however, is far from decided. Abiteboul has said the next set of regulations, currently set to last from 2027 for ten years, do not match what Hyundai is hoping for as an international carmaker.

The major changes for WRC27 will introduce a €345,000 cost cap and draw heavily from existing Rally2 car designs. The rules allow almost any size production car body to be used with safety cell chassis, meaning hatchbacks, saloons, and SUVs might all compete together.

Despite the flexibility, Abiteboul explained that Hyundai is concerned these rules do not let manufacturers like Hyundai show their latest technology.

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Hyundai has not started designing a car for the WRC27 rule package. The company is waiting for more information, especially since the FIA, rallying’s governing body, plans to focus first on internal combustion engines, with new powertrain options only available from 2028 onward.

Abiteboul said the FIA’s aim is to make it easier for non-manufacturer teams, but this creates problems for car brands that want to promote innovation, alternative powertrains, and new technology.

Abiteboul believes that current Rally1 rules are expensive and mostly suit large manufacturers with advanced hybrid systems. However, the next set of regulations might go too far in the other direction, favoring tuners over carmakers and lacking a middle ground.

This has left Hyundai unsure whether it can justify developing a new car under the planned rules and continue its business case for WRC participation.

With Hyundai having raced in WRC for 13 years, the team principal expressed a strong wish to continue that legacy but emphasized that changes must be made for the brand’s future in the series.

Discussions with the FIA are ongoing as Hyundai pushes for rules that better support car manufacturers’ desire to feature relevant automotive technologies.

As of now, Hyundai’s spot in the 2026 WRC season looks likely, but the manufacturer’s involvement in 2027 and beyond is still being debated.

The decision will depend on upcoming changes to WRC regulations and whether they match Hyundai’s objectives for technology and brand promotion in motorsport.

Daniel Miller

Daniel Miller reports on Formula 1 Grand Prix weekends with race-day analysis, team-radio highlights, and point-standings updates. He explains power-unit upgrades, aerodynamic developments, and driver rivalries in straightforward, SEO-friendly language for a global F1 audience.