The top WRC car specification introduced for 2022 is called Rally1.
Group Rally1 replaced the previous World Rally Car specification at the top level of the manufacturers’ championship. The FIA introduced the formula for the 2022 season to reduce costs, standardise selected components and bring rallying closer to modern automotive technology.
Rally1 cars retained 1.6-litre turbocharged engines but added a standardised hybrid system supplied by Compact Dynamics. The electric motor could provide up to 100 kW of additional power on stages and allowed cars to run in electric-only mode through designated liaison zones. Rally1 cars also introduced permitted tubular safety structures, simpler aerodynamics and less complex transmissions.
Rally1 is the elite tier of the FIA’s Rally Pyramid. Rally2 sits below it and is used prominently in WRC2, while Rally3, Rally4 and Rally5 occupy progressively lower performance tiers. The hybrid system was discontinued for the 2025 season, but Rally1 remains the name of the top WRC specification.