Teemu Suninen is making headlines once again. The Finnish driver is reportedly set to take charge of Project Rally One's gravel testing programme, with the Belgian team preparing to enter the WRC's top category next season. The news emerged after several websites reported that Suninen will be testing the team's new car on loose surfaces, at least this autumn.
Project Rally One unveiled its new car at the Rally4Passion event in Huy, Belgium, last Friday. The team also confirmed that its first asphalt tests had been completed without any reliability issues. "Project Rally One is now in the final phase before the car's homologation, which is scheduled for 1 November. We have just completed five days of asphalt testing, covering 750 kilometres without any reliability issues whatsoever. The performance also met our expectations. Once the homologation is complete, we will continue testing," said Lionel Hansen, who launched the project.
Next week, the team will return to asphalt, followed by gravel in October. This schedule keeps them on track, with the target of bringing two Rally One cars to Rally Monte Carlo in 2027. "It is a significant challenge, but the target remains realistic. Of course, a lot can still happen before then," Hansen added. The team will focus on WRC's asphalt rallies next season, although intensive development work is also planned on gravel. Suninen is said to be their first-choice test driver for loose surfaces.
The team's sporting director, Alain Penasse, explained that Project Rally One currently employs 21 people full-time. "The challenge is, of course, to get the right people into the right roles on an extremely tight schedule, particularly with Rally Monte Carlo 2027 as the deadline. Bruno Thiry and Stephane Lefebvre handled the first asphalt tests, while the newly crowned ERC champion Teemu Suninen will be responsible for the first gravel tests," he said. Penasse also confirmed that no official announcement has been made about the drivers for Monte Carlo, but discussions are under way. "I can also confirm that Project Rally One is attracting a great deal of interest."
Suninen has competed in both the European Rally Championship (ERC) and the World Rally Championship (WRC) this season. He claimed the European title in a Skoda, while in the WRC he has competed in Toyota machinery. Suninen also tested Lancia's Rally2 car during the summer, giving him considerable experience with different manufacturers.
For Suninen, involvement in this ambitious project could be a stepping stone to a full-time WRC seat in 2027. As ERC champion, he has proven his speed and consistency across various terrains. Now, a new challenge awaits: helping Project Rally One develop a competitive gravel car. If successful, it's not unlikely that he will be trusted to drive one of the cars in Monte Carlo.
Project Rally One is not just any team. With 21 full-time staff and a homologation target of 1 November, they are serious about competing at the highest level. The support of experienced drivers like Suninen, Thiry, and Lefebvre signals that this team means business. However, the journey is still long. The gravel test in October will be the real test for Suninen and the team. If all goes smoothly, we might just see two Rally One cars at Monte Carlo 2027, with Suninen possibly behind the wheel of one.
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