After his victory at the Critérium des Cévennes, Yohan Rossel is already looking ahead to the coming season. The 31-year-old Frenchman is one of the fastest Rally2 drivers and is increasingly occupied with the question of his future. A new possibility could open up for the sought-after step up to the top class.
Lancia hesitates on the WRC-Kit
The background is the new regulations of the World Rally Championship. From 2027 existing Rally2 cars can be upgraded to the top category with a special WRC-Kit. The cars will receive, among other things, altered aerodynamics and will be allowed to run with a larger air restrictor.
For Rossel that would be the chance to compete in the Rally1 category with the Lancia Ypsilon against the completely newly developed WRC27 cars. However, the manufacturer has so far not confirmed any corresponding development. "But I have great hope that Lancia will develop the kit," Rossel told Rallye-Sport.fr.
Customer motorsport takes priority
Lancia sporting director Luca Martello had already explained in the summer why the decision is difficult. On the one hand, the regulations were published late, leaving little development time. On the other hand, a constructor must enter at least two cars for the entire WRC season to participate in the respective championship. That requires considerable financial resources.
For Lancia the customer racing business is currently the focus. The new Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale established itself successfully in its first season, while Rossel and Nikolay Gryazin secured the factory team the WRC2 team title.
Rossel wants to move up
The Frenchman now has other ambitions. Since 2019 he has regularly driven Rally2 cars and has been among the frontrunners in WRC2 for years. In 2026 he also scored three class wins at the WRC rounds in Croatia, the Canary Islands and Chile. Nevertheless, it was not enough for the hoped-for driver title.
Already after his win in Chile Rossel made it clear that in 2027 he wants either a completely new Rally1 car or a Rally2 with a WRC-Kit. Another year exclusively in WRC2 does not meet his expectations.
The connection to Stellantis is still important to him. The group has accompanied his career for many years, initially with Citroen and now with Lancia. Rossel would like to continue this collaboration, but must also consider other options.
M-Sport is already a manufacturer preparing the deployment of a Rally2 car with a WRC-Kit. In addition, further opportunities for 2027 are emerging at Toyota and with independent constructors.
