Okay, hot take. Formula 1 is a commercial success. The Group B glory days of WRC are long gone. We know. But rally is starting to turn a corner—and it offers a lot more to real racing fans. F1 could learn a thing or two! 

Before you start sharpening your pitchforks, I see the stark financial differences between the two series. WRC has struggled to attract constructors in recent times; F1 has added Audi, Cadillac, and Ford this season alone. But the sport’s manufacturer-centric approach has led to other problems. 

Often, big auto OEMs want to tie race car technology as closely to their roadgoing offerings as possible. Only these two categories are more cousins than siblings. EVs may be the darling of the consumer world for now, but there’s less appetite for batteries in racing. 

Switching to a 50-50 electric-combustion hybrid model has been disastrous for F1 so far. The FIA is now looking at returning to naturally aspirated V8s. But WRC might be ahead of the game here, as they’ve simplified rules to attract new entries for 2027. 

Tuners Project Rally One and WRT Rally 1 Spain have already signed up. With costs capped at €345,000, Lancia are also said to be eyeing up a return. When you add Rally's whole down-to-earth vibe into the mix, we’re talking about a comeback for the purists. 

In an age of push-to-pass F1 where fans are looking to other series like WEC for a bit of old-fashioned, white-knuckle racing, is WRC's return the remedy we’re looking for? 

WRC: A sport of champions 

In many regards, F1 is the world’s leading motorsport, the pinnacle. It’s certainly head and shoulders above the rest in terms of audience. But WRC has its charms. The way fans are involved for a start. It’s not unusual to see supporters drag crashed cars back onto the stage so they can keep competing. 

Then there’s the spectacle and danger involved. While F1 drivers are being punished for getting on the throttle too early, rally drivers are always on the edge. How many times have we seen WRC wins fumbled by tiny errors? Just look at nine-time champ Seb Ogier at last week’s Rally Portugal.

Heading into the penultimate stage 17 seconds ahead, he picked up a puncture, forcing him to stop for a late tyre change. Dramatic, yes. Unfortunate, absolutely. But it showed once again that the margin for error in a rally is minuscule—and that’s why we respect the drivers so much. 

I witnessed this first-hand at Rally Japan a few years ago. The weather went from damp to sleet/snow in no time at all, catching everyone out. There was a three-car pile-up; after that, many were just relieved to finish. But they also seemed thrilled by the challenge. The racing was authentic and the drivers looked like heroes. 

Ringing in the changes for 2027

WRC might be grittier than modern F1, but it’s far from perfect. Four years ago, new rules were introduced to make the sport safer and more eco-friendly, mandating the rollout of biofuelled hybrid engines. Sound familiar?

Well, WRC also ditched the turbo-hybrid plan. Better yet, they’re now scrapping the whole rule book. Next season, all cars will feature 1.6-liter turbocharged ICEs, much like the ones that currently compete in WRC2. The rules have also been set for ten years, so development costs can be kept to a bare minimum. 

It’s too early to tell if this approach will bring back WRC’s glory days. None of this year’s current teams, Ford, Hyundai, or Toyota, have committed to 2027 just yet. But 2019 world champion Ott Tänak has already been seen testing a prototype for the latter, so surely it’s only a matter of time. 

It’s also worth remembering that the infamous Group B era was ultimately introduced via a rule change that loosened the rules for manufacturers. The new low-cost rules won’t be quite as liberating as before, but they should attract tuners and manufacturers back to the sport. 

Should F1 follow WRC’s redemption arc?

So, WRC messed up their previous regulations. Next year promises to be a much better one for the sport with rejuvenated manufacturer interest. Ironically, this is being achieved without any dependence on electric power—the very thing that supposedly attracted new OEMs to F1 in the first place. 

Staying authentic, while broadening the playing field and allowing the brilliance of drivers to shine through, is all fans are really asking for. That’s why F1 has a lot to learn. WRC still feels like a grassroots motorsport connected to fans. F1 has turned into a luxury product. 

Of course, the FIA is now backtracking at pace. Rule changes in the offing will see F1 ditch 50-50 power distribution by next season. But there’s been no commitment to dropping electric power altogether.

While F1 makes up its mind, fans are starting to drift away and watch the likes of Max Verstappen compete elsewhere. Maybe they should give WRC a try as well.