The Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) has outlined an ambitious vision for the future of motor sport, with the World Motor Sport Council approving a series of key regulations during its mid-2026 meeting in Macau. The decisions, announced on June 23, 2026, encompass a wide range of championships and aim to enhance safety, sustainability, and competitiveness across the sport.
H.E. Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, highlighted the progress made in 2026, noting the introduction of new race winners, emerging talent, and iconic events like the Monaco Grand Prix and the 24 Hours of Le Mans. ‘We continue to deliver on our commitment to create motor sport that is safe, exciting, sustainable, and accessible,’ he stated, emphasizing the FIA’s dedication to growing and expanding its global championships.
The Future of Truck Racing: New Technical Roadmap
The Goodyear FIA European Truck racing Championship is set for a significant overhaul with the introduction of a new technical roadmap. The World Motor Sport Council approved the general principles of an updated technical platform for the next generation of race trucks, which will compete alongside the current specification trucks under Category II regulations until at least 2030.
A new Category I specification will be introduced to increase road relevance and facilitate the integration of future powertrain technologies. The new regulations aim to reduce vehicle weight and operating costs, improve safety, and enhance sustainability. The Category I chassis regulations will promote greater technical freedom through open suspension geometry, improved vehicle dynamics, and increased chassis stiffness. These trucks will also be designed to accommodate multiple energy sources, including fully electric, hybrid, and liquid hydrogen (LH₂) powertrains.
The roadmap foresees the completion of a first draft of the new Category I chassis regulations by the end of 2026, with homologation from 2027 and eligibility for competition from 2028. The development of Category I powertrain regulations will follow a separate timeline, with a first draft planned by the end of 2027 and development work commencing in 2028.
Formula E: Innovations and New Race Formats
The ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is set to break records with a 21-race calendar across 13 global cities. The World Motor Sport Council approved significant updates to the sporting format, including the introduction of the GEN4 car for the 2026-27 season. This new car will feature permanent all-wheel drive and two power levels: 450kW in Race Mode and 600kW in Attack Mode.
The 2026-27 season will introduce two different race formats on double-header race weekends: the Classic Efficiency Race and the all-new Performance Race. The aerodynamic configuration for each event will be confirmed 21 days before the race. Additionally, wet tyres will be introduced for wet track conditions, and points will now be awarded in qualifying for both the Drivers’ and Teams’ World Championships.
WRC27: Enhancing Competition with Rally2 Upgrade Kit
The World Motor Sport Council has approved technical regulations for the FIA World Rally Championship’s top category from 2027. The new regulations introduce a Rally2-WRC-Kit, which can be fitted to Rally2 cars homologated before December 31, 2026. These cars will be eligible to compete alongside WRC27 cars in the championship’s premier category during the 2027 and 2028 seasons.
The Rally2-WRC-Kit aims to support greater aerodynamic parity between Rally2 cars and the new generation of WRC27 cars. The kit will comprise new homologated front fenders, a front bumper, and a rear aerodynamic device, with a maximum cost of €7,500. Homologation of the Rally2-WRC-Kit may only be carried out by a manufacturer registered for the FIA World Rally Championship as a constructor.
Eligibility for Rally2-WRC-Kit cars in the FIA World Rally Championship’s top category will end on December 31, 2028, providing a defined two-year transition period as the WRC27 regulations are introduced. The new framework is designed to strengthen competition in the championship’s top category during the opening years of the WRC27 cycle.
Expanding Esports and Supporting Accessibility
The FIA has expanded its Esports initiatives with the approval of regulations for the FIA Esports European Hill Climb Cup. This new competition will be launched on the RaceRoom platform, featuring the iconic BMW 134 Judd V8. The tournament will unfold in two stages, beginning with an open online qualification followed by an onsite final in Luxembourg.
The World Motor Sport Council has also approved the creation of a separate Esports Code to regulate FIA Esports Competitions. Additionally, new provisions have been introduced in the Regional Rally Sporting Regulations to improve accessibility for drivers and co-drivers with disabilities. These provisions include additional passes for team members to support mobility and the handling of medical equipment.
The FIA has unveiled a new Historic Motor Sport Roadmap, outlining a phased approach to period compliance scrutineering from 2026 through to 2030. The initiative aims to strengthen consistency, fairness, and credibility across historic motor sport through a harmonised framework for eligibility control and compliance monitoring.
