A new era in rallying: Project Rally One is the first to unveil its WRC27 car

The timing is telling. Whilst the world champions at Toyota have so far been developing their WRC27 project largely behind closed doors, Project Rally One is putting its car in the spotlight. The Belgian newcomer led by Lionel Hansen is the first private constructor of the new era to unveil its future competition car.

In early September, the prototype took to the test track under its own power for the first time. The team undertook initial test runs in France and Germany. There were no major technical issues. Stephane Lefebvre subsequently took over the development work, most recently in the Vosges.

Lionel Hansen is the driving force behind Project Rally One. The Belgian aims, with his small team, to capitalise on the new flexibility of the WRC27 regulations and establish himself as an independent manufacturer in the World Rally Championship.

Testfahrten in den Vogesen verliefen vielversprechend

Foto: Project Rally One

“Project Rally One is now in the final phase of development and is due to undergo homologation, which is scheduled for 1 November,” explained Hansen at the car’s presentation. “We have just completed five days of tarmac test drives, covering 750 kilometres without encountering the slightest reliability issue, whilst the car delivered the performance we expected. As soon as homologation is complete, we will carry out further test drives next week.”

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These will again take place on tarmac before switching to gravel in October. Alongside development driver Stéphane Lefebvre, the newly crowned European Rally Champion Teemu Suninen will also be behind the wheel of the new car.

The project is on schedule. The aim is to enter two cars in the 2027 Monte Carlo Rally. It will then become clear whether the car not only looks spectacular but also performs reliably. Chassis, dampers, geometry, brakes, differentials, cooling, electronics and aerodynamics are all being put through their paces.

The FIA has laid the groundwork for the project. The current Rally1 generation is due to be phased out at the end of 2026. WRC27 is intended to make the top class more cost-effective and more accessible to new manufacturers. A shared tubular frame safety cell forms the technical basis. Added to this are all-wheel drive, double wishbones and a 1.6-litre turbo engine producing around 290 PS. The engine and gearbox are derived from the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. A competitive tarmac car is expected to cost a maximum of 345,000 euros. This is the entry ticket for Project Rally One.

The new World Championship season begins on 20 January 2027 with the Monte Carlo Rally. For a completely new generation of cars, the rally – with its tarmac, wet conditions, ice and snow – is one of the toughest tests imaginable.

Project Rally One: Seitenansicht

Foto: Lucas Kathol

Hansen therefore intends to decide by 1 November at the latest whether competing in this WRC classic is a realistic prospect. Production and procurement must therefore get underway in parallel with development. Partners such as Faster Racing, WRT Manufacturing, Marelli Motorsport, Multimatic and OMP Racing are involved in the project.

A total of five World Championship events are planned. “In the first half of the season, we want to focus on tarmac rallies,” explains Alain Penasse, sporting director and strategic lead for Project Rally One, “after that, we also want to compete on loose surfaces.”

Toyota undoubtedly has a different starting point when it comes to technical superiority. The Japanese manufacturer has been developing its WRC27 prototype since 2025.

However, Project Rally One has secured a symbolic lead. The Belgians were the first to unveil their car. Now they must prove that it is not only the first – but also ready for the first special stage.