Yohan Rossel has made clear his ambition to step up to Rally1 or Rally2 Kit, and his desire to leave Lancia could pave the way for Teemu Suninen to take the Italian seat. Rossel, who finished runner-up in WRC2 this season with Lancia, feels he needs a new challenge to advance his career.
The 2026 season was a mixed bag for Yohan Rossel. He joined Lancia Corse HF and helped the team secure the manufacturers' title alongside Nikolay Gryazin. However, the drivers' championship remained elusive. Three victories in Croatia, the Canary Islands, and Chile were not enough to overcome his rivals, mainly due to mistakes in Monte Carlo and Portugal, as well as an engine failure in Greece.
After finishing runner-up in WRC2 twice, Rossel believes it's time to move up. He expressed his desire to drive a Rally1 car in the new regulations era or a Rally2 Kit car and fight at the front. "I have only one target: to be as ready as possible for Monte Carlo. My plan was to be ready for the top class in 2027," Rossel told DirtFish.
However, the path to the top class with the Stellantis group appears difficult. Lancia reportedly does not intend to homologate a Kit version of the Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale. Rossel considers Lancia like his family, but the final decision depends on the team's vision and plans for next year. "It is like my family. But it depends on their vision and what plans they have for next year," he added.
Currently, M-Sport is the only manufacturer known to be homologating a Kit version of its Rally2 car, the Ford Fiesta. However, Rossel may also have Rally1 options with Project Rally One or a privately run Toyota. Teo Martin Motorsport is reported to have ordered several Toyota cars. Nevertheless, Rossel's ideal scenario would be to continue with Lancia and the Stellantis family. "Hopefully the win in Chile helped. But of course, we also have to look at other options," he revealed.
If Rossel does leave, the door opens wide for Teemu Suninen. The newly crowned European champion tested the Lancia in the summer, and a recent video shows the Finnish driver back at work with the Ypsilon Rally2. Suninen has delivered impressive performances this season, and at next week's Rally Sardinia, he has the chance to add a world championship medal to his European title.
Suninen is currently fourth in the standings, just nine points away from second place, occupied by Rossel. With the season still ongoing, the WRC2 battle is heating up. If Suninen finishes ahead, he could secure the runner-up spot and strengthen his claim for the Lancia seat next year.
Rossel's decision and Suninen's future will be one of the intriguing stories in the WRC paddock ahead of the 2027 season. Will Rossel stay with Lancia or seek a new challenge, and will Suninen be his successor? Time will tell.
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