The sporting director of the Italian brand, Eugenio Franzettiexplained why they are returning to rallying in Rally4 and what it takes to return to WRC. After ten titles in their showcases, they will return to the stages with their Ypsilon4 Rallyand will participate in the Italian championship in the new Trofeo Lancia, single-make.
The model's creation marks its return, five decades after winning its first title with the legendary Stratos in 1974. Although its appearance raised many expectations, there was speculation that a Rally2 program was being considered, before confirm where they would compete. , from the 2026 season.
Lancia does not rule out a future return to and would consider a business plan in formation once the 2027 regulations are announcedalthough it is expected that everything will be known by December this year. According to Eugenio Franzetti, the stability of regulations was one of the considerations that pushed the manufacturer to return to the bottom of the pyramid.
“What we need is to have rules [para 2027]we need to know what the Rally2 of the future will look like and what the Rally1 will look like. Once we understand that, in a few months we will also be able to understand how much it costs to make them and how,” he said. . “And then, once we understand the rules, we can create a business plan.”
“Once the business plan is created, we can put costs on one side of the scale and visibility value, and revenue on the other, and understand if this scale is a positive scale,” a- he continued. “We do motorsport and there is a return on investment. The return is given on the one hand by the technical and logistical costs of doing it, on the other hand by the value of visibility, which has great significance, that visibility also gives you sponsors, partners, etc., it is clear that all this must be extremely positive.
“Today, the only certain rule is that of the Rally4. We know how it's done, how much it costs and everything. That's why Lancia is coming back with a Rally4,” he explained. “The only certain thing we know is the regulations, it’s clear, it’s an extraordinary product, interesting from a racing point of view and from a commercial point of view.”
The drop in costs and the introduction of a cost limit are factors that could interest the manufacturer in returning to the WRC. His manager also admitted be an admirer of Rally2, where the Stellantis Group is already present with Citroën: “Let's try to create championships that cost a little less and have a cost limit, after which, staying within that limit, you do what you want.”
“We have to make a championship with a finite number of millions, after which the engineers can give free rein to their imagination, knowing that motorsport is used as a promotional tool and that, therefore, in any case, everyone will bring this which he also knows how to do in terms and in the end it’s a spectacle,” he declared.
“Today, we are all moving towards hybrid, electric, electrified. I imagine that everyone wants to show that they know how to do that there, but a cost limit would be enough and then leave the room for others,” he assured. “The Rally2 is a very interesting car because it is fast, it allows you to win championships [nacionales] and the European, which also allows you to go very quickly in the WRC.”
“Now with some Rally1 [en el WRC]if you have a Rally2, you can also get into the top ten, even close to the top five, and you have crazy visibility,” he said. “And then, it's a commercial product, it's is a product that you sell and who buys it is happy, [el coche] works well, has an acceptable cost per mile, etc., the Rally2 was an extremely smart spec. »
Do you want to read our news before everyone else and for free? Follow us here on our Telegram channel and you will not lack anything. All the information, at your fingertips!
