Project Rally One Tests Its WRC 2027 Car - 300 km in Three Days
Project Rally One rolled its car out onto a circuit in Germany and covered around 300 kilometers over three days. These are the first serious miles logged ahead of the WRC27 regulations, and the target set by this brand-new constructor is bold: two cars on the starting ramp at the 2027 Rally Monte Carlo, the season opener. The plan calls for designing, building, and homologating a full WRC27-spec rally car entirely in-house.
What Project Rally One is - and what those first tests proved
Project Rally One is a new rally constructor built around three serious names. Engineer Lionel Hansen, Yves Matton - former FIA Rally Director and Citroen WRC team principal - and the company Prospeed announced the project in December of last year, committing to a WRC27-specification car for the start of the new regulatory cycle.
The first real distance session took place on a circuit in Germany. This was not a special stage; it was a mechanical and suspension checkout on kerbs and at high speed, designed to stress the structure before any real road work begins.
"We did indeed complete three days of testing. The car was subjected to heavy loads on the kerbs and at high speed, and we covered about 300 kilometers without any problems," Hansen told French outlet L'Equipe.
Why an independent constructor in WRC makes sense right now
The 2027 regulations reshape the WRC landscape in a fundamental way. For the first time, tuners can become fully recognized constructors under the new rules. The top class of rallying has been a closed shop for factory programs for years; the WRC27 framework cracks that door open for smaller outfits willing to build and homologate their own hardware.
Project Rally One is not alone in making that bet. Spanish operation RMC Motorsport has also committed to the new regulations, and more than ten tuners have expressed interest in joining the championship under the 2027 rules.
The Project Rally One prototype runs a 1.6-liter Volkswagen Group engine - the same unit proven in the Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo Rally2 cars. Choosing a known powertrain means the team is not fighting an unknown engine while simultaneously sorting a brand-new chassis. The kerb and high-speed runs serve as a body stiffness and suspension durability check that the car needs to pass before tarmac and gravel testing can begin in earnest.
When Project Rally One plans to debut in WRC 2027
The goal is unambiguous: two cars entered from Rally Monte Carlo 2027, round one of the season. The team says it is tracking ahead of its own internal schedule.
"The target is to enter two cars from Monte Carlo. We are moving faster than anticipated, and we will carry out a series of tests - on tarmac in September, then on gravel in October, one month ahead of our original schedule," Hansen added.
Three drivers have already turned laps in the prototype. Among them, according to reports, is former WRC factory driver Stephane Lefebvre. The race lineup for the season has not been finalized.
Where rival tuner RMC Motorsport stands
The other committed tuner is working to a different timeline. RMC Motorsport is targeting a WRC debut at the 2027 Rally Croatia - likely in the April slot on the calendar - which puts them a few rounds behind Monte Carlo.
"Our current goal is a WRC debut in Croatia in 2027. We cannot guarantee that today, because the final decision will depend on the progress of our development and testing program. Right now we are hitting our planned milestones, and Croatia remains our target," team representatives stated.
RMC's program then runs through Spain and Portugal, with South American rounds scheduled for the second half of the season. The team is working in partnership with Spanish federation RFEDA and intends to develop its own engine based on an already-homologated Group A unit. Driver plans are being kept close to the chest; the team has only indicated that talks are underway with experienced world-class drivers and promising young talent.
What this means for the WRC field and for fans
Today the WRC top class is defined by a small group of factory programs. If independent constructors reach the grid and stay there, the championship gains more cars in the top class and a wider fight for points across the season.
There are no guarantees. Building a car from scratch is one challenge; matching factory pace across a full season is another. Project Rally One still has months of tarmac and gravel testing ahead before any final entry decision is made. The immediate dates are already set: tarmac tests in September, gravel in October.
Frequently asked questions about Project Rally One and WRC 2027
Who founded Project Rally One?
The team was founded by engineer Lionel Hansen, former FIA Rally Director and Citroen WRC team principal Yves Matton, and the company Prospeed.
What engine does the prototype use?
During testing, the car ran a 1.6-liter Volkswagen Group engine previously proven in the Skoda Fabia and Volkswagen Polo Rally2 cars.
When does Project Rally One plan to debut in WRC?
The team is targeting a two-car entry from Rally Monte Carlo 2027, the opening round of the season.
Is Project Rally One the only new constructor entering WRC?
No. Spanish operation RMC Motorsport has also committed to the WRC27 regulations, and more than ten tuners have expressed interest in joining the championship under the new rules.
Why can tuners now build WRC cars?
The WRC27 technical regulations allow tuners to become fully recognized constructors for the first time, opening the top class to smaller companies willing to design and homologate their own cars.