From a technical point of view, the 2026 season is a very special season. It marks the final year for Rally1 cars, which have been granted with two extra jokers in 2026 to homologate their latest developments before being phased out. At the same time, it is the last season before Rally2 cars will share the top category with the upcoming WRC27 cars. For all these reasons, the season begins with a significant number of technical innovations. We have gathered and summarised all of them, with the aid of the FIA homologation list published just ahead of Rallye Monte-Carlo.
E.Evans/S.Martin, Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, 2026 Rallye Monte-Carlo, 2nd
The main 2026 novelty on the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 for 2026 is the introduction of the new rear wing, homologated in January with a bodywork joker. The new wing was fitted only to the three manufacturer entries of Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT at Rallye Monte-Carlo, while it is highly possible that Sami Pajari can also benefit from it in Sweden. The team used a second bodywork joker, possibly for the removal of the roof scoop cover.
E.Evans/S.Martin, Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, 2026 Rally Sweden pre-event test in Finland – image extracted from this video by Rourebel 2.0
First removed during the 2025 Rallye National Hivernal du Dévoluy pre-event tests, and also during Monte-Carlo and Sweden PET, the roof scoop without cover has not been used yet in competition. However, if there is an event where this modification makes sense, this is Sweden: the low ambient temperatures minimise the need for external cooling, while the high speed stages requires minimal drag to achieve higher top speeds and maximal rear wing efficiency through the fast corners, which are the main advantages of running without the roof scoop cover.
Toyota did not use all of its available jokers in 2025, which meant it carried over four jokers into the 2026 season. The third joker was used to homologate new suspension components, offering greater setup flexibility, while a fourth joker was used for improvements at the running gear (brakes or steering).
Y.Yamamoto/J.Fulton, Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, 2026 Rallye Monte-Carlo, retired
The transmission of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 also received several improvements, homologated in January using a joker. At the Rallye Monte-Carlo, the car driven by Yuki Yamamoto was fitted with the original, larger wing mirrors usually fitted only in the Printsport car, while the other GR Yaris Rally2 ran the smaller rounded mirrors.
2026 Rally Monte-Carlo Elliott Delecour’s GR Yaris Rally2 wing mirror fitted with a reflective insert
A.Fourmaux/A.Coria, Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Evo, 2026 Rallye Monte-Carlo, 4th
The Hyundai i20 N Rally1 seen at Rallye Monte-Carlo featured an upgrade of the gear ratios intended to compensate for the loss of hybrid and the introduction of a smaller turbo restrictor one year earlier. This update was homologated using a joker. Ideally, this upgrade should have been introduced earlier, as Toyota and M-Sport did in January 2025, but Hyundai was unable to do so, having used all of its jokers on the ‘Evo’ car upgrade.
Additional modifications, homologated with a second joker affected the running gear. These changes were aimed at addressing the stability of the front end, making the car more predictable and less nervous. However, Fourmaux noted during the season-starter event that it was not working as expected.
J.Armstrong/S.Byrne, Ford Puma Rally1, 2026 Rallye Monte-Carlo, retired
The engine of the Ford Puma Rally1 received several improvements in Monte-Carlo, following their homologation last November via an engine joker.
Ford Puma Rally1 side air intakes at 2026 Rallye Monte-Carlo
In contrast, the car retained the same design of the side air intakes as in 2025, with no sign of the modification seen during pre-event testing, when the lower intake was shaped as a NACA duct.
R.Jürgenson/S.Oja, Ford Fiesta Rally2, 2026 Rallye Monte-Carlo, 16th
The Ford Fiesta Rally2 received a significant engine upgrade last December, which required the use of four engine jokers. The upgrade included new exhaust camshaft and manifold, new fuel injectors and new pistons.
Rear brakes cooling was also improved with the addition of fans mounted under the car to force air to cool the brakes, replacing the previous unforced intake. Cockpit cooling was enhanced as well, with the addition of a third vent to the inside of the roof scoop assembly, increasing airflow by almost a 30%, along with the introduction of a heat shield in the exhaust tunnel to significantly reduce its temperature.
Weight was reduced by almost 10 kg through the revision of the dashboard composite lay-up, the replacement of the rear window with a polycarbonate unit, a lighter lithium-based battery, lighter Sparco harness and lighter headlights. Other modifications included new specification gravel dampers, an upgraded front subframe and an updated electronics kit update.
Y.Rossel/A.Dunand, Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale, 2026 Rallye Monte-Carlo, 9th WRC2
The Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale seen at the Rallye Monte-Carlo was externally identical to the car used in the pre-event tests, including the extended rear wing supports.
Skoda Fabia RS Rally2, 2026 Rally Sweden pre-event test
Škoda homologated a bodywork joker for the Fabia RS Rally2 in January, possibly to introduce the new (wider) roof scoop seen during various tests over the last months.
The Czech team also announced further improvements to commemorate the company’s 125th anniversary. These updates are aimed at reducing weight, through the introduction of a polycarbonate rear window and a lighter engine wiring harness, and to increasing durability, with the addition of crossmember covers for gravel and asphalt and new CV joint sleeves. Other updates include new OZ rims and an updated central panel.
Images of the car during the Rally Sweden pre-event tests showed the use of the wider roof scoop, as well as new wing mirrors similar to those of the Ford Fiesta WRC and Fiesta Rally2. Wing mirrors can be homologated via a Variant Option if they are ultimately fitted to the car, so no joker is required.
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