Rallycross
World RX will become a 100% thermal European championship again in 2026
© FIA World Rallycross
Subject to the approval of the World Council, these measures will notably refocus the premier competition on the European Championship. RallycrossThe World RX as such will therefore cease to exist, and will be replaced by a World Rallycross Cup, which will see the world's best specialists in the discipline compete in a non-championship event.
While World RX has featured a "Battle of the Technologies" for the past two seasons, the 2026 European Championship will be open only to combustion-engined cars. This will allow for a reduction in costs, as all-electric machines, ideal for Rallycross due to their enormous torque, also had a much higher fixed cost.
From 2028, cars competing at the highest level of Rallycross will meet the same overall technical regulations as the machines of WRC 2027. This will allow for further cost reductions, and the FIA hopes this will lead to the return of a World Rallycross Championship, as has been the case since 2015.
FIA Sporting Director Emilia Abel said: “The changes announced today mark an important step in the long-term growth of Rallycross. From the beginning, our approach has been to listen to the teams, drivers, organizers, and, most importantly, the fans. The last two seasons have been a true technological battle, with electric versus internal combustion. This period has shown how Rallycross can be at the forefront of motorsport innovation, and the lessons learned will remain in our DNA. The move to an internal combustion drivetrain builds on this foundation to provide an affordable and accessible format to expand starting grids and intensify competition.”
With the European Championship providing a strong racing format and plans – subject to World Motor Sport Council approval – for a World Cup to create an exciting global showcase, we are offering the best of both worlds as we transition to the new technical regulations for the 2028 season.”
This weekend in Türkiye, the World RX final will also be the last round in the history of the championship, for the moment...
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Sams
19/09/2025 at 09:01 a.m.
Rallycross is historically a sport for non-professionals and has only ever really been successful in Europe. When it became global, factories got involved, travel became more distant, all of which caused costs to explode. Electricity is therefore only part of the problem, with platforms being produced in dribs and drabs and undoubtedly needing to be developed. Returning to a more amateur championship is therefore a good thing, even if it represents a technological step backwards.
JO ORTIZ
18/09/2025 at 07:05 a.m.
It's a slap in the face to all-electric, we shouldn't have put the cart before the horse. Now we have to rebuild everything.
JEAN PIERRE LAFON
18/09/2025 at 06:09 a.m.
"internal combustion transmission", "we are transitioning" 😬, small translation problems?