After a season relatively light on technical novelties, most WRC teams used end-of-season testing to fine-tune their cars for 2026 and, in some cases, to assess new components. Here is our review of last week’s Rally1 and Rally2 testing developments.
Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Hyundai has been the most active Rally1 team in testing, making use of its remaining allocation from the 21 test days permitted by the regulations. As a result, an initial test session was held on French tarmac, with Adrien Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville beginning preparations for Monte Carlo while continuing development of the tarmac-spec version of the upgraded i20 N Rally1 after the disappointment in Canarias.
T.Neuville/M.Wydaeghe, Hyundai i20 N Rally1, Development test, France, December 2025 – image by Julien Pixelrallye
As in 2024, Fourmaux returned to the Rallye National Hivernal du Dévoluy, where snowy conditions provided valuable preparation in the event of a snow-affected Monte Carlo.
Development testing continued last week at the team’s home test area in Jämsä, Finland, where running can be carried out without restriction. Neuville, Fourmaux and Esapekka Lappi completed a three-day test on gravel due to unexpectedly high temperatures in the region.
E.Lappi/E.Malkonnen, Hyundai i20 N Rally1, Development test, Finland, December 2025 – image by Ilkka Lamminsivu
Images from these tests do not reveal any external modifications, with most of the expected developments likely focused on the suspension, transmission and engine. One potential change the team could introduce is the removal of the external side air intakes. Following the removal of the hybrid unit for 2025, Hyundai remains the only team to retain these prominent intakes, now used to channel fresh air for brake and transmission cooling.
Removing the intakes would require Hyundai to revert to the (now blanked) NACA duct side inlets. However, the aerodynamic benefits of such a change would be significant, including reduced drag and improved rear wing efficiency. Their eventual removal would not be a surprise, especially as this is a joker-free modification permitted under the 2025 regulations.
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Toyota was also present at the Rallye Dévoluy, giving new recruit Oliver Solberg the opportunity to familiarise himself with the car in Monte Carlo–style conditions. The GR Yaris Rally1 seen at Dévoluy was fitted with the new rear wing design already observed during the pre-event tests for the South American rallies (held in France in August) and at the Central European Rally.
O.Solberg/E.Edmondson, Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, Rallye National Hivernal du Dévoluy 2025, 2nd – image by Carles Jiménez
The wing’s first use in competition strongly suggests it will be introduced across all Toyota entries from Monte Carlo onwards. The central wing is now wider than the original, with simplified external winglets. The primary objective appears to be drag reduction, while maintaining a broadly similar level of downforce.
New Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 rear wing – image by Carles Jiménez
A second novelty was observed on the Yaris GR Rally1 during Dévoluy’s shakedown: the car ran without its usual roof scoop, revealing the internals in the form of a NACA duct. This may have been a test to assess the impact of removing such a prominent component on rear wing performance. However, it should be noted that the car competed in the event with the standard roof scoop fitted.
O.Solberg/E.Edmondson, Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, 2025 Rallye National Hivernal du Dévoluy Shakedown – image by Toyota Gazoo Racing
Toyota had planned to carry out some development tests on snow last week at their home test area in Mikkeli, unusually high temperatures and a lack of snow forced the team to cancel.
Ford Puma Rally1
On the M-Sport side, there have been no reports of development tests outside their home facility in Greystoke. Following the announcement of the 2026 driver line-up some days ago, this week has started with a shakedown session for Jon Armstrong, to get familiar with a car he has only driven once before—during a tyre test, also held at Greystoke.
J.Armstrong/S.Byrne, Ford Puma Rally1 shakedown session at Greystoke – image by M-Sport
Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale
The biggest news of the year-end in Rally2 is the arrival of the Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale. Following the team’s official presentation, development testing continued in southern France, with the new driver line-up—Yohan Rossel and Nikolay Gryazin—fully engaged in the programme.
Y.Rossel/A.Dunand, Citroën C3 Rally2, Development test, Southern France, December 2025 – image extracted from this video by ADRallye
The car included a notable update to its rear wing supports, with the side supports now extended further forward than on the original design. The change was aimed at keeping external airflow from getting under the wing. Without this interference, air flows faster under the wing, pressure is reduced, and the wing is more efficient, that is, generates more rear grip.
Extended wing support seen at the December’s development test – image extracted from this video by Passats de canto
These were the last tests before the car is homologated, which should happen on January 1st, in order to allow their participation in the next season from Monte-Carlo.
Toyota GR Yaris Rally2
The car that secured Oliver Solberg the 2025 WRC2 Championship underwent an extensive development programme on both tarmac and gravel, using some of the classic stages from Rally Catalunya.
J.Hänninen/tbc, Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, Development test, Northeast of Spain, December 2025
The test focused on evaluating brakes and tyres, as well as validating several modifications planned for next year—particularly on tarmac, where Toyota faces its toughest competition.
R.Korhonen/A.Viinikka, Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, Development test, Northeast of Spain, December 2025
Official test driver Juho Hänninen took the wheel on one of the tarmac test days, alongside customer drivers like Philip Geipel and new recruit Jasper Vaher. On gravel, the car was driven by Yuki Yamamoto, Rope Korhonen, and Jan Solans, while Alejandro Cachón was unable to participate as he recovered from injuries sustained at the Rally Saudi Arabia.
Ford Fiesta Rally2
M-Sport recently announced a series of improvements for the next season, oriented to improve performance and reliability of the Fiesta Rally2. The upgrade includes engine power increase, via new injectors, pistons and exhaust camshafts, as explained by M-Sport’s customer program manager James Allinson to Dirtfish, electrical updates and improvements in cockpit and brakes cooling, by means of a new rear brake cooling kit.
Ford Fiesta Rally2, Development test, Greystoke (UK), December 2025 – image by M-Sport WRT
Both the suspension geometry and the internals of the car’s gravel dampers have been revised, the former through an updated front crossmember. And weight reduction has been achieved by introducing a lighter dashboard, replacing the glass rear windshield for polycarbonate, and a lighter exhaust manifold. The modifications also include a new steering wheel panel and ECU software changes.
The homologation of all these modifications required up to six jokers.
Škoda Fabia RS Rally2
The Czech Team continues to develop the Fabia RS Rally2 on all surfaces, with the addition this year of Esappekka Lappi as test driver. His last test was held on gravel in the south of France, end of October. It was a combination of durability testing and development of new components for 2026.
R.Virves/J.Viilo, Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, 2025 Rally Saudi Arabia pre-event test, Southern Spain, November 2025 – image by Škoda Motorsport
Although details of the modifications remain undisclosed, images from the latest tests show a car fitted with a wider roof scoop for improved cockpit cooling. This component had already been upgraded in the previous update (Packet 25), but the issue appears not to have been fully resolved.
Hyundai i2o N Rally2
One year after the homologation of the Step 2 version of the i20 N Rally2, the car has largely played a testimonial role in WRC2, appearing in just three events—Monte Carlo with Camilli and Munster, and Portugal with Sordo. However, it has shown strong performance in several national championships, proving competitive on both tarmac (France, Czech Republic) and gravel (Portugal).
A.Fourmaux/A.Coria, Hyundai i20 N Rally2, Development test, Southern France, December 2025 – image by Julien Pixelrallye
While there were rumours that the team was working on the Step 3, the last test session took place on tarmac in southern France the week before the Rallye Dévoluy. Adrien Fourmaux took the wheel, with the main goal of adapting the car to Hankook tyres in preparation for future WRC participation. The car was then driven by Hayden Paddon to victory at the Dévoluy event.
The team plans to introduce some minor improvements in 2026, according to Benoit Nogier, Customer Program Manager (Dirtfish). For 2027, the goal is to re-homologate an entirely new version of the car, as permitted by the regulations, once the current model reaches the end of its homologation cycle.
The team has just announced some minor improvements in 2026, while for 2027 the goal is tore-homologate a completely new version of the car, as allowed by regulation, once the current car will have reached the end of its homologation period.
The new improvements for 2026 include increased torque and improved engine power delivery, by means of a tailor-made engine calibration offered to customers, redesigned dampers, featuring new internal parts intended to improve the car’s handling on all surfaces, weight reduction by new and lighter rear windows that also offer better ventilation, helping to remove problems of windscreen fogging, and a more robust, efficient and reliable wiper motor.
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