At the beginning of September, the Rally2 category car was the protagonist of an intense test session in the south of France. Among the pilots who alternated the steering wheel, the French Bonato and Rossel stand out. In 2026 he was expected at the starting ribbons of the WRC-2, for a return of the brand in the specialty after over 30 years of waiting
In 2026 the winner (if with a age of less than 35, editor’s note) of the appropriate single -brand trophy launched at the beginning of the year will be the protagonist in the European championship FIA ERC At the wheel of a Ypsilon Rally4 HF official, but in the coming months Spear It is also expected at the starting line of the WRC World and of the Italian Rally Championship with a category car Rally2. Just over four months after the departure of the 94th edition of the Montecarlo rally (and who knows that the debut in the race of this car cannot take place precisely in the event, scheduled from 22 al January 25 next), inaugural appointment of the world championship series, the Turin house owned by the group Stellantis He officially revealed the car from Absolute which marks the brand’s return to one of the main categories of the specialty. And even if, at least for the moment, no further details have been revealed on a possible commitment in official form, it is already certain, following the approval, that this model will also be able to take part in a WRC–2 particularly fought, with their respective cars that now guarantee performance (and spectacular passages) not too far from the most performing Rally1. Inevitably the hope of fans is that an interrupted flour can re -establish the December 18, 1991when the stop to the cycle of victories came from Turin (11 among the manufacturers, for a record still unbeaten, and 4 of the drivers) also guaranteed by characters of the caliber of Cesare Fioriohistoric Team Principal, and pilots Miki Biasion, Juha Kankkunen, Marku Alén, Attilio Bettega and Henri Toivonen.
Test in France with WRC-2 pilots
–
At the beginning of September the team races of Stellantis Motorsport He started an intense test session on asphalt in the south of France. The car used is a specimen of the Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 full which, probably, will be approved by 1 January 2026. According to the first press rumors, they took turns on the wheel Yoann Bonatoexpert transalpine driver who runs in the French championship and in the continental Fia Erc (at the end of August, at the Barum Rally, the Irish crew composed of Craig Rahill and Conor Smith won a class victory that brought a continental laurel to the Turin brand after over 30 years of waiting), and Yohan Rosselamong the favorites for the final victory of the WRC-2. Both this season compete with one Citroën C3 Rally2 specular to that used by Andrea Crugnolafour times Italian champion, in the tricolor. And who knows that Varesino, already used for the development phase of the Ypsilon Rally4 HFcannot be involved in this fascinating project. Certainly the racing version of the French sedan is now starting towards the end of one’s career, being the most dated of the lot, in a class challenge with the most recent Skoda Fabia And Toyota Gr Yaris. In this sense, a relay between the two brands of the galaxy is probable Stellantiswith the house of the Double Chevron which could also be diverted to the World Championship of Formula e. He launches, for his part, he promises that this is only the beginning, and in 2027 the new WRC regulation will enter into force which, unless rethinking or changes, will see the protagonists of the cars similar to the current Rally2 based on a frame Space Frame.
Ypsilon HF, from Rally2 to Rally6
–
As already happened for the Ypsilon Rally4 HFeven under the hood of the Full rally2 There will be an endothermic engine powered by petrol from approximately 290 hp. No full electric, as for the road version HFor Mild Hybrid. In the case of the younger -wheel drive sister, the protagonist of a Lancia Trophy articulated on five appointments (and six races, given the double round to the capital Roma) of the Absolute Italian Championship Rally Sparcothe reference point is the 1.2 turbo engine from 212 hp combined with a 5 -speed Sadev sequential gearbox. In this case, however, a good term of comparison is represented by the Citroën Racing 1,6 liter turbo engine with direct injection from 282 hp And 420 Nm pair, with a flange from 32 mm and a 5 -speed sequential Sadev gearbox, present on C3 Rally2 current. It should be noted that, with the exception of the World Cup, where the victories are still the prerogative of the Rally1this is the category of main cars in all other events of international and national validity. In addition to the performing Rally2 and to the Rally4 from the trophy, in 2026 the Lancia brand – represented in this sporting adventure by Luca NapolitanoCEO of the brand, Eugenio Franzettiresponsible for the newly formed team crop (and in the control cabin also in the Formula Ed team team) e) Miki Biasiontwo times the world champion of the specialty – will also be present in the category entry level Rally6 presented on the occasion of the launch of the Ypsilon HF Electric Road (and already in the race in Spain a few days ago) driven by a 1.2 -liter 3 -cylinder 145 HP and 240 Nm torque engine combined with a 6 -speed manual gearbox with short relationships and with mechanical differential. A further proposal at reasonable prices (it is in the list a 38,900 euros) for the aspiring champions of tomorrow.
© RESERVED REPRODUCTION