Sebastien Loeb tests Project Rally One’s 2027 WRC car in the French Vosges, lending title-winning experience as the Belgian outfit finalises development before FIA homologation and a Monte Carlo debut.

The team reveals its 2027 car last month, built to the latest technical regulations, and targets a two-car programme at selected rallies, starting with January’s season-opener in Monte Carlo.

Up to eight drivers contribute to testing, including former factory racers Stephane Lefebvre, Freddy Loix, and Bruno Thiry, ensuring broad feedback on setups, reliability, and drivability across surfaces.

Teemu Suninen, fresh from his European Rally title, leads gravel development and coordinates test priorities, giving the programme a clear direction on rough-road performance and tyre management.

A two-day Vosges session splits duties: Suninen works on wet setups in persistent rain; milder conditions next day allow Loeb to evaluate dry balance and braking stability.

Both drivers report encouraging progress, with feedback shaping setup baselines ahead of homologation. That process is essential for eligibility in the 2027 WRC season and underpins early reliability targets.

Loeb’s 80 WRC victories offer a valuable benchmark, particularly on transient balance and traction. His input helps validate Suninen’s direction and highlights areas where setup windows can broaden.

Loeb last contests a WRC round in 2022 with M-Sport’s Ford Puma, yet remains active across disciplines, keeping his reference pace current.

The driver roster for 2027 remains open. Project Rally One indicates that strong testers, including Stephane Lefebvre and others, stay in contention as race seats firm up later this year.

Homologation paperwork is scheduled for submission by late October, keeping the programme aligned with build freezes and parts lifing requirements that govern budget, performance, and reliability planning.

2027’s landscape looks fluid, with new entries and unresolved plans like Ogier’s 2027 WRC future. That raises the stakes for Project Rally One among new constructors chasing early points.

Next steps focus on durability mileage, powertrain calibration, and fine-tuning hybrid deployment, aiming to lock specifications before Monte Carlo’s mixed conditions expose any weaknesses.

With Loeb’s validation and Suninen’s direction, Project Rally One positions itself to arrive prepared, rather than hopeful, for a closely watched debut in January.

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Zane Muniz

Zane Muniz writes across NASCAR, IndyCar, F1, IMSA, NHRA, and dirt-racing news. His breaking-news alerts and event previews ensure motorsport fans never miss a lap, drift, or drag-strip showdown.