Skip advert
Advertisement

2022 hybrid-era WRC championship ready for launch

The contenders have been revealed, and the cliffs above Monte Carlo ready. A new era in Rally is here

A new era of the World Rally Championship is about to kick off as the hybrid era ushers in an exciting new wave of competition. Three major manufacturers have made a commitment to the sport, with Hyundai, Toyota Gazoo racing and Ford M Sport all signing a three-year contract to compete in the WRC from 2022 until 2024. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

All three manufacturers will use the same 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engines as their 2021 WRC racers, combined with a standardised 3.9kWh battery pack, inverter and 136bhp electric motor. As such, total power and torque figures will be higher than the 375bhp and 313lb ft of torque caps currently enforced by the FIA.

WRC 2022

Cars will also retain their four-wheel drive systems and five-speed sequential boxes, and like before will not be allowed to utilise any active centre differentials. The suspension and axles will both be further simplified compared to the current regulations.

To accommodate the new battery pack, all WRC cars will need to incorporate additional reinforcement of the internal roll cages, with an extra strengthening hoop placed at the rear of the welded cage, as well as strengthened door bars to better protect from side impacts. 

All three teams have revealed their respective rally cars, with all three manufacturers moving to all-new models. Toyota’s GR Yaris will finally see time in top-level competition for Toyota’s Gazoo Racing team, who will be defending their 2021 driver and manufacturer championship wins with the all-new Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. The team will run three cars throughout the year, driven by 2021 champion Sebastian Ogier, 2021 second-place finisher Elfyn Evans with the final car driven by Kalle Rovanperä. Gazoo Racing will also run a fourth car driven by junior drivers. 

Hyundai’s all-new i20 N Rally1 WRC car will be Toyota's biggest challenger, driven by long-standing driver for the Korean team Theirry Neuville. There will be a further two cars entered by Hyundai too, with car number two driven by Ott Tanak and car number three shared between rookie Ollie Solberg (son of former WRC champion Petter Solberg) and Dani Sordo.

Finally, Ford and M-Sport have once again teamed up, this time in the creation of the Puma Hybrid Rally1 car, an all-new model type for Ford and the first use of a ‘crossover’ donor vehicle, rather than the more popular supermini baseline. M-Sport will operate three cars of their own driven by Craig Breen, Adrian Fourmaux and Gus Greensmith, with WRC and rally raid legend Sébastian Loeb competing in just the opening round in Monte Carlo.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

2024 Dakar Rally preview: cars, teams, routes and full details
Prodrive Hunter – front
Features

2024 Dakar Rally preview: cars, teams, routes and full details

The 2024 Dakar rally roars into life on 5 January. Here’s all the key information, plus an inside look at Prodrive’s Dakar preparations
2 Jan 2024
Hyundai N may never give us another petrol-powered model
Hyundai N badge
News

Hyundai N may never give us another petrol-powered model

Hyundai’s technical advisor Albert Biermann tells us to temper our expectations for another combustion-powered N model in the UK
17 Nov 2023
Prodrive P25 review – this £552,000 Subaru Impreza is worth every penny
Prodrive P25
Reviews

Prodrive P25 review – this £552,000 Subaru Impreza is worth every penny

The P25 is Prodrive’s dazzling tribute to the iconic Subaru Impreza 22B STI. But can it possibly justify its eye-watering £552,000 price tag? There’s …
28 Oct 2023
2023 British Rally Championship: Trackrod Rally results
British Rally Championship Trackrod Yorkshire
News

2023 British Rally Championship: Trackrod Rally results

The 65th Motorsport UK British Rally Championship season continued with the Trackrod Rally in Yorkshire
25 Sep 2023
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

The Nissan GT-R has been updated yet again for 2025
Nissan GT-R 2025 – front
News

The Nissan GT-R has been updated yet again for 2025

The R35 Nissan GT-R refuses to die – this latest version gets engine enhancements and subtle cosmetic tweaks
15 Mar 2024
MST Mk1 2024 review – £174,000 Ford Escort recreation driven
MST Mk1 Ford Escort
Reviews

MST Mk1 2024 review – £174,000 Ford Escort recreation driven

The MST Mk1 is a brand new, 50-year-old, road-going rally car. It looks the business, but does it deliver? Strap yourself in…
15 Mar 2024
Used car deals of the week
Main used car deals
Advice

Used car deals of the week

In this week's used car deals, we've sourced everything from the TVR Tuscan to the CLS63 Shooting Brake
15 Mar 2024