Can Lancia enjoy success on its anticipated WRC re...

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Lancia is assured it could possibly instantly be able to combat for victories and a championship title on its return to the World Rally Championship this 12 months.

The well-known Italian model will return to the WRC phases at this weekend’s season opener in Monte Carlo with its all-new Ypsilon HF Integrale Rally2 automobile to do battle within the championship’s second tier WRC2 class.

Lancia’s anticipated return marks the primary time the 10-time WRC constructors’ champions will discipline a manufacturing facility supported effort within the WRC since 1992, when it is all conquering Delta HF Integrale lifted its final constructors’ title.

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The automobile maker has been daring relating to its ambitions for its WRC comeback in 2026, saying at its launch final 12 months that it goals to problem Toyota, Ford, Skoda and Hyundai for the WRC2 title within the first 12 months, with its newly developed Rally2 automobile. This bullish declare has been backed up by its determination to rent perennial WRC2 title fighters Yohan Rossel and Nikolay Gryazin to pilot its two factory-backed automobiles.

Lancia has not wasted any time creating its new Ypsilon Rally2 automobile because it formally dedicated to its WRC return. Lancia’s homeowners – the Stellantis Group – have already developed and loved success in WRC2 with its Citroen C3 Rally2. The brand new Ypsilon challenge has been constructed utilising a wholly new chassis, whereas the automobile shares the engine and gearbox from the C3 that has been considerably improved upon.

Rossel and Gryazin, who’ve beforehand pushed the C3, consider the brand new Lancia is already developed sufficient to be preventing for wins from the outset.

Yohan Rossel, Arnaud Dunand, Lancia Corse HF Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale

Photograph by: WRC.com

“Instantly I’ve an excellent feeling. My first check was on gravel and instantly you may see the hole from the final specification [Citroen C3 Rally2] and the brand new automobile,” mentioned Rossel. “For positive, it is extra reactive on gravel and simpler to drive and it appears to grip instantly.

“On tarmac previously I’ve had an excellent automobile and it’s troublesome to say the place we’re, however for positive I’ve not discovered any surprises in the course of the checks and we will instantly seek for an excellent arrange. I feel that is good when you could have a brand new automobile.

“I feel we will combat instantly for the title. The Stellantis Group has quite a lot of expertise with automobiles and information so it is rather straightforward for a driver to right away combat for the win.

“It’s by no means straightforward to start out in Monte for positive and we all know the difficulties. You’ll be able to’t say we will win, you simply attempt to do no errors at first and attempt to enhance the arrange and adapt to the phases. It will likely be a difficult weekend.”

Gryazin had no hesitation in signing for Lancia, after revealing he agreed to drive for the long-lasting model earlier than he’d even examined the Ypsilon for the primary time.

“It’s true I did say sure [to join Lancia] earlier than driving the automobile however I used to be fairly assured as I knew the Stellantis Group and Lancia, and I do know who’s working there, so I used to be assured the automobile ought to be good,” mentioned Gryazin.

Lancia Corse HF crew space

Photograph by: WRC.com

“I’m actually proud to be part of it and to assist develop it. From the feeling-wise I feel we’re able to combat already. We simply want to verify it within the outcomes.

“For me, this model is iconic and my father was driving a Lancia Delta firstly of his rally profession. It means quite a bit as a result of once I was rising up as a toddler, and there wasn’t a plan to do any rallying, I noticed lot of documentaries about rallying and it was primarily in regards to the Lancia model. Now being part of this implies quite a bit. Perhaps someday our names will probably be within the historical past of this model. It’s good motivation for us.”

Whereas the temper within the Lancia camp is buoyant forward of its maiden spherical with the Ypsilon, crew principal Didier Clement has mentioned the crew nonetheless has a lot to study its automobile shifting ahead and is planning extra growth checks on each asphalt and gravel.

“The event of the automobile is like we anticipated, actually there have been no surprises. We have already got some information with these sorts of automobiles,” mentioned Clement. “We are able to enhance some areas in comparison with the C3 Rally2. The automobile is lighter, now we have labored quite a bit on the aerodynamics and it is going to be an environment friendly automobile.

“We had no points in any respect in the course of the growth checks however I’d say it’s simply a place to begin as a result of we’ll proceed to develop the automobile all season lengthy. We can have some check periods for Croatia, the Canary Islands and for gravel.

“We plan a check in Finland as a result of with the earlier automobile we weren’t capable of compete on the proper stage. We can have a correct growth check to search out the correct arrange for this particular rally.

“It’s wonderful and we really feel quite a lot of ardour, and we’re actually excited by this challenge.”