Teemu Suninen appears to be edging closer to a return to the top tier of the WRC. Belgian team Project Rally One, which will join the WRC in 2027, has confirmed that the Finnish driver will join as a test driver in October. This news comes as a boost for Suninen, who has been impressing in the WRC2 category this season.
Project Rally One is preparing for the new WRC27 era, where Rally1 cars will be replaced by Rally2-based machinery. The team began its testing programme about a month ago with French asphalt specialist Stephane Lefebvre, who drove the car. Now it's Suninen's turn to test on gravel starting in October. This is part of the team's build-up to its debut at Monte Carlo in January 2027.
Team principal Lionel Hansen has openly named Suninen and Lefebvre as the leading candidates for the two seats. “For professional drivers, there are not so many opportunities at the moment. If everything goes well, the drivers are happy, we have no troubles and we find partners as we expect, then starting Monte Carlo with Lefebvre and Suninen, for me, it’s already a good line-up to do the race,” Hansen told Motorsport.com.
Hansen added that the mix of asphalt and gravel experience was a key consideration. “We would have experienced drivers on tarmac and gravel, and it’s not a shame to start Monte Carlo with this line-up,” he said. This statement underlines the team's confidence in Suninen, who has been impressive in WRC2 this season and has openly stated his desire to secure a top-class drive next year.
Project Rally One's plans don't stop at Monte Carlo. The team will also compete in the Belgian rally championship next year to continue developing the car. Hansen's target is to contest seven WRC rounds with two cars. “If, for example, we have only one professional car in the World Rally Championship and we do six or seven rallies – three on tarmac with Lefebvre and four on tarmac or gravel with Suninen – and we have next to this a second car which is a customer car, it’s not a shame for the first season,” he explained.
Hansen stressed that the current line-up is determined by the mileage they will do. “To be clear, at the moment, the line-up for me is chosen by the mileage we will do. If we do the mileage with Lefebvre and Suninen and they are both happy, I have no reason to change,” he emphasised. This sends a positive signal to Suninen that his performance and satisfaction will be key to the continuation of their collaboration.
Suninen's position is currently strong. In addition to the Project Rally One project, the Finnish driver has also tested for Lancia. Lancia's interest in Suninen could be another option, but with Project Rally One's concrete offer, Suninen's future in the WRC looks increasingly bright. The final decision will depend heavily on how the tests go and whether partnerships materialise as expected.
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