Will Skoda Make a WRC Return Under New Regulations?

Czech manufacturer Skoda is closely assessing the World Rally Championship's new technical regulations set to take effect for the 2027 season, according to Spanish outlet soymotor.com. While a final decision on building a new-generation Rally1 car has yet to be made, the marque has not ruled out the possibility.

The upcoming regulations aim to deliver simpler and significantly more cost-effective machinery, sparking a noticeable surge in interest across the World Rally Championship.

Three projects are already underway for 2027—spearheaded by Toyota, RMC Motorsport, and Project Rally One. Ford is also targeting a top-tier return in 2029 following its announcement of new model developments for Europe.

Several manufacturers are in talks with the FIA and the new WRC promoter. In 2025, the governing body projected that up to 20 cars built to the new rules could feature on the grid, with Skoda among those involved in the discussions.

However, being at the table does not necessarily mean an immediate Rally1 entry. The Czech manufacturer has confirmed it will not field a top-class car in 2027 due to insufficient development time.

Skoda does not currently have a bespoke Rally1 car ready and has yet to test the aero kit designed to adapt Rally2 machinery to the new rulebook.

The factory's plan is to continue developing the Fabia RS Rally for as long as possible. The car carried Robert Virves and Jakko Viilo to the WRC2 title during the 2026 campaign.

The year 2029 is set to be decisive for Skoda's long-term strategy, as all signs point to it being the final season in which Rally2-spec cars will be eligible to compete in the WRC.

According to soymotor.com, the Czech marque's primary objective is to maintain a sustained motorsport presence through the continued expansion of its customer racing programmes.

Skoda recently completed testing sessions in Portugal, putting an updated version of the Fabia RS Rally2 through its paces ahead of the 2027 season.