Le WRC is about to experience a mini-revolution in 2025: with a view to reducing costs, making cars more reliable and improving the show, the discipline will undergo several changes next season, starting with the withdrawal of the hybrid system. Less powerful but lighter cars, and above all less complex and less expensive, opening the door to private commitments.
The WRC will also diversify the rally formats: some will be shorter and others longer than the traditional 305 kilometres of course. Above all, the 2025 grid could see some changes with a facelift and the arrival of young talents in the premier category.
Toyota
At Toyota, after having won a fourth consecutive Constructors' title on the wire at home, the Japanese team has learned the lessons of a laborious 2024 season to avoid having such a scare again. After having bet on only two regular drivers in 2024, the Japanese clan has decided to line up... four full-time cars in 2025, plus a fifth on various rallies! Like last season, Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta will compete for the entire season.
Double world champion Kalle Rovanperä will also make his full-time return after a partial year. The three men will be joined on all rallies by Sami Pajari: the young Finn, impressive in his first outings with the Yaris Rally1, convinced Toyota to sign him for the full season in 2025. Finally, as since 2022, Sébastien Ogier will respect a partial program on selected rallies.
ALSO READ > From four to five Toyotas in Rally1 in 2025, with the return of Rovanperä full-time
Hyundai
Hyundai may have won his first Drivers' title with Thierry Neuville in 2024, but it missed the boat in the Constructors' Championship by just three points. A defeat on the gong that changed the philosophy of the Korean team for its crews in 2025. If the shock duo Thierry Neuville – Ott Tänak will have the mission of achieving the Drivers-Constructors double next year – The Belgian having extended his contract for an additional year last September – Hyundai has finally decided to hire a third full-time driver in 2025.
And this pilot is Adrien fourmaux ! The Frenchman, author of a great season at M-Sport with five podiums, will have the opportunity to join a factory team next year and help Hyundai secure a Constructors' title that has eluded it since 2020. The entry of a fourth car on certain rallies, which was also under consideration, no longer seems to be in the pipeline: Andreas Mikkelsen and Esapekka Lappi, already entered part-time in 2024, could well remain on the sidelines in 2025.
ALSO READ > Hyundai recruits Adrien Fourmaux and Alexandre Coria for the 2025 season
M Sport Ford
For the first time since 2021, M-Sport concluded a season without a win and finished third in the championship, far, far behind the giants Toyota and Hyundai. And the situation is not likely to improve with the departure of Adrien Fourmaux, who alone collected the British team's five podiums during the 2024 campaign. In 2025, Grégoire Munster will have the difficult task of replacing the Frenchman in the role of leader of the team.
As for the second full-time car, M-Sport will trust the young Josh McErlean. The 25-year-old Irishman still has to channel his passion to avoid his many mistakes in his first season in Rally1. At present, it is not known whether the British team will enter a third car, full-time or part-time.
For a possible third car, the eyes are logically turning to Martins Sesks: the Latvian performed very well in his first rallies in the premier class aboard the Ford Puma and has done enough to claim a seat in Rally1 in 2025. On the Malcolm Wilson structure's side, the objective of promoting young talents would be fully achieved if Munster, Sesks and McErlean were to find themselves together on several events. Finally, as in recent years, Jourdan Serderidis should participate in a few rallies in the form of a private entry with the Ford Puma.
WRC – The 2025 plateau
🇯🇵 Toyota Gazoo Racing
🇫🇮 #5 Sami Pajari
🇯🇵 #18 Takamoto Katsuta
🇬🇧 #33 Elfyn Evans
🇫🇮 #69 Kalle Rovanperä
🇫🇷 #17 Sébastien Ogier (partial program)
🇰🇷 Hyundai Motorsport
🇧🇪 #1 Thierry Neuville
🇪🇪 #8 Ott Tanak
🇫🇷 #16 Adrien Fourmaux
🇬🇧 M-Sport Ford
🇱🇺 #13 Gregory Munster
🇮🇪 #55 Josh McErlean
🇱🇻 #22 Martins Sesks (partial program)
WRC2 – The 2025 grid
🇯🇵 Toyota Yaris Rally2
🇸🇪 Oliver Solberg (Printsport)
🇪🇸 Jan Solans (Teo Martin Motorsport)
🇨🇱 Diego Dominguez (Teo Martin Motorsport)
🇫🇷 Citroën C3 Rally2
🇫🇷 Yohan Rossel (PH-Sport)
🇫🇷 Léo Rossel (PH-Sport)
🇫🇷 Sarah Rumeau (Iron Dames)
🇫🇷 Pablo Sarrazin (Iron Lynx)
🇮🇹 Rachelle Somaschini (RS Team)
🇨🇿 Skoda Fabia RS Rally2
🇵🇾 Fabrizio Zaldivar (Toksport)
🇫🇮 Lauri Joona (Munaretto Sport)
🇫🇮 Mikko Heikkilä (TGS Motorsport)
🇺🇸 Ford Fiesta Rally2
🇪🇪 Romet Jürgenson (M-Sport)
🇰🇷 Hyundai i20 N Rally2
No driver formalized
ALSO READ > FIA formalizes the end of hybrid in Rally1 from 2025
Brid Get
23/12/2024 at 10:59 a.m.
Sad "plateau", give us back those from the 80s and 90s!!!!!
Luis Sarmento
16/12/2024 at 06:21 a.m.
Hello. great article that show us how the drivers alighn. just one note: the Portuguese flag in Elfyn Evans and in M motorsports. Unfortunately thats not true. As a protuguese I would like to have a driver and a team in WRC but.... best regards
DANIEL MEYERS
25/11/2024 at 12:25 a.m.
It should also be taken into account that for Hyundai 25 and 26 will most likely be the last two years of official involvement in the WRC.