ŠKODA MOTORSPORT WON’T DEVELOP RALLY2 WRC KIT FOR 2027

FABIA RS RALLY2 SET TO REMAIN IN WRC2 NEXT SEASON AS ŠKODA RULES OUT FIA’S NEW RALLY2 WRC KIT DUE TO SHORT DEVELOPMENT TIMELINE

Škoda will not develop a Rally2 WRC Kit for its Fabia RS Rally2 for the 2027 World Rally Championship season, with the manufacturer citing a lack of development time.

The decision follows the FIA’s announcement on Tuesday of a new Rally2 WRC Kit, which will be eligible for use in the 2027 and 2028 WRC seasons. The package allows manufacturers to fit Rally2 cars with a revised front bumper, front fenders and a rear aerodynamic device.

The FIA has capped the cost of the kit at €7,500, with the aim of reducing the performance gap between Rally2 machinery and the all-new WRC27 cars due to arrive next season.

Škoda has been one of the leading manufacturers in the Rally2 category since its introduction, but head of motorsport Michal Hrabánek confirmed that the Czech brand will not homologate a kit for the Fabia RS Rally2.

Instead, Škoda will continue with its current car next season, leaving the Fabia RS Rally2 to compete only in WRC2 rather than the top-level category created by the new regulations.

KEY POINTS

• Škoda will not develop a Rally2 WRC Kit for the Fabia RS Rally2 in 2027

• The manufacturer cited a lack of development lead time

• The FIA unveiled the Rally2 WRC Kit regulations on Tuesday

• The kit includes a new front bumper, front fenders and a rear aerodynamic device

• The maximum cost of the kit has been set at €7,500

• The package is designed for use in the 2027 and 2028 WRC seasons

• The goal is to bring Rally2 cars closer in performance to the new WRC27 cars

• Škoda says it will continue with the Fabia RS Rally2 next season

• The Fabia RS Rally2 is therefore set to compete only in WRC2 in 2027

• Lancia is currently the only other manufacturer in the Rally2 class

QUOTE

“At Škoda Motorsport, we fully support all efforts to shape an exciting future for rallying. However, the timeline for the Rally2 WRC Kit is very short, and the ongoing discussions have made advance planning difficult. We will therefore continue with the Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 next season.”

— Michal Hrabánek