Lancia goes global: its world debut is set in Monte Carlo, January 2026
(+) In 2026, Lancia will make its comeback to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC2). The announcement was revealed in an emotional video featuring Luca Napolitano, Miki Biasion, and Eugenio Franzetti, celebrating the return of the most successful rally brand of all time.
(+). The world debut will take place at the Monte Carlo Rally (22–25 January 2026), the first race of the 2026 WRC, where the new Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale will tackle the legendary French Alpine roads in the WRC2 category.
(+). A complete rally range, consistent with the Lancia Corse HF strategy: from the Ypsilon HF Racing to the Ypsilon Rally4 HF, to the new Rally2 HF Integrale, symbol of continuity between a glorious past and a competitive future.
(+) Rallye Sanremo closes an extraordinary season: the Lancia 2025 Trophy crowns Pisani and Biagi as champions of the single-make and CIAR 2Ruote Motrici championships, confirming the technical and sporting success of the Ypsilon Rally4 HF and the audience's enthusiasm for the brand’s return to rallying.
"Rallye Sanremo was the ideal setting to close a memorable season and open a new one - declared Luca Napolitano, CEO of Lancia. After the success of the Lancia Trophy and the Ypsilon Rally4 HF, we are ready to take one further step. We can proudly announce that Lancia will return to the WRC, where the brand has written some of the most legendary pages in rallying history. This is a natural return for the most successful rally brand ever, which approaches the future with the same passion and determination that made it a world icon. See you in January, in Monte Carlo, for the first race of the 2026 World Championship".
In a thrilling video (https://youtu.be/vCWGXHXmOxA?si=0bvd8S4RpJa_KNpR) featuring Luca Napolitano, Miki Biasion, and Eugenio Franzetti, the Lancia brand officially announced its return to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) during the final round of the Lancia 2025 Trophy in Sanremo. Specifically, the 2026 WRC season will open with the Monte Carlo Rally, scheduled on 22-25 January on France's icy Alpine roads, one of motorsport's most iconic settings. This Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale is part of the customer racing program, making it available to drivers and teams to compete worldwide. Full details on the new car and Lancia's sporting program will be announced later at the Stellantis Motorsport headquarters.
With the arrival of the Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale, which will compete in WRC2, Lancia’s rally lineup becomes even more complete and ambitious, complementing the Rally4 HF and Rally HF Racing with a new protagonist ready to bring the brand back onto the world stage.
The announcement of Lancia’s return to the World Championship comes at the most significant moment, at the conclusion of a season that celebrated the brand’s sporting revival and the strength of the Lancia Corse HF project. The Rallye Sanremo spectacularly closed the 2025 Lancia Trophy, offering a final, thrilling chapter to a championship that marked the official return of the brand to rallying. Against the stunning backdrop of the Ligurian inland and the Riviera dei Fiori, the Ypsilon Rally4 HF once again proved to be the undisputed star, showcasing its reliability, speed, and show-stopping performance.
Lancia’s return to rallying couldn’t have gone any better: while the Trophy delivered record-breaking numbers at every event, the Turin-based brand also clinched the Titolo Costruttori Due Ruote Motrici of the Campionato Italiano Assoluto at the Rallye Sanremo, sealing a record-breaking comeback to competition. Gianandrea Pisani and Nicola Biagi claimed the 2025 Lancia Trophy with one race to spare, capping an extraordinary season in which they dominated the single-make series and secured the Piloti CIAR 2Ruote Motrici title, returning Lancia to national glory after more than thirty years. Their flawless campaign, built on consistency, talent, and determination, perfectly embodies the spirit with which Lancia has returned as a top competitor in rallying.
But the grand finale of the Lancia Trophy, held at the Rallye Sanremo, also delivered the second win of the season for Davide Pesavento and Alessandro Michelet, who took control as early as in the second special race and from then on were unreachable. The driver from Veneto, who set six fastest times - earning the Best Performer bonus points - and won the Miki Stage, managed perfectly to fend off the comeback of 2025 Champion Gianandrea Pisani who, alongside Nicola Biagi, claimed the second place after an impressive second day that saw them take victory in the Classifica Master. Third place went to Edoardo De Antoni with Martina Musiari, who also finished second among the Masters.
The Under-25 podium was claimed by Gabriel Di Pietro, co-driven by Andrea Dresti, who, with today’s result, is crowned 2025 Junior Champion of the Lancia Trophy, and by Lady Asia Vidori, with her first podium of the season in her category. Meanwhile, Federico Francia and Chiara Lombardi took third place among the Masters and closed the Top5.
The fierce battle in the Expert category crowned Mauro Porzia and Arianna Genaro, as the result of a consistent, measured, and smart season. The race success, however, went to wildcard duo Paolo Vigo - Matteo Canobbio, after a race full of twists and turns. The Ligurian driver prevailed over the other wildcard crew, with Christian Casadei and Nadir Bionazzi.
The Sanremo stage represented the culmination of a six-event series of high standards, which saw both participation and technical level increase round after round. The Lancia Trophy also confirmed the validity of a formula that combines competition and accessibility, attracting experienced drivers as well as young talents eager to showcase their skills behind the Ypsilon Rally4 HF. Throughout the season, the single-make series accounted for approximately 25% of the total entries in the Campionato Italiano Assoluto Rally, confirming the success of the initiative and the strength of the sporting project.
Public enthusiasm was remarkable. Thousands of fans filled the Lancia villages at every stage, experiencing the brand’s passion up close. Spectators had the chance to admire the new Ypsilon range, legendary models such as the Rally 037 and Delta Integrale, meet the protagonists of the Trophy, and dive into the authentic Lancia sporting spirit, which unites different generations into a big, passionate family.
The undisputed star of the season was the Ypsilon Rally4 HF, developed with the technical guidance of two-time World Champion Miki Biasion. It demonstrated excellent performance, standing out for its precise setup, engine brilliance, and reliability across all types of terrain. The Rallye Sanremo thus marked not only the end of an extraordinary season but also the beginning of a new era for Lancia, which now looks ahead to the World Championship with enthusiasm, expertise, and a forward-looking vision.
Source Lancia