Yohan Rossel and Nikolay Gryazin confirmed at Lancia

Even though there was little doubt about it, especially since the announcement of the 2026 lineup of HyundaiHaving virtually closed the doors of the Rally1 class to the two main contenders, the information is now official: Yohan Rossel and Nikolay Gryazin will indeed be driving the Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 next season in WRC2. This news was expected earlier this year, specifically last November when the car was officially presented in Satory (Yvelines), but it took a few more weeks for it to move from the realm of rumors to official confirmation.

For Yohan Rossel, who will once again rely on Arnaud Dunand in the co-driver's seat, this could be his chance to fulfill all the expectations placed upon him. The reigning WRC2 World Championship runner-up, the driver from the Gard region of France, will be the favorite to claim the ultimate prize and will have all the tools to repeat his WRC3 title win in 2021. Now comfortable on all types of terrain and free of his "arch-rival" Oliver Solberg, Rossel can count on the support of a team dedicated to his success.

Gryazin returns to Stellantis Motorsport

Within the structure, he will therefore be reunited with his former teammate from 2024. Nikolay Gryazin, long sailed by Konstantin Aleksandrov, will also be a major contender next season in the feeder series. WRC and will be able to draw on all his experience from the rallies on the calendar. Back in the Stellantis fold after a mixed season with Škoda Motorsport, Gryazin, too, will have a lot riding on this and will absolutely have to make people forget his reputation as a fast but sometimes inconsistent driver.

It's worth remembering that, at the time of writing, the 2027 WRC regulations are not yet finalized, and the current Rally2 cars could become, if not the only ones, machines capable of challenging for overall victories. Therefore, the upcoming WRC2 season could be crucial for the future of the discipline, as well as for the drivers themselves. Rossel and Gryazin understand this well and thus have a golden opportunity to prepare for the end of the decade in the best possible way.

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