WRC 2
“I don’t know how I’m going to sleep until Monte” - inside Lancia’s return
Lancia’s return to the FIA World Rally Championship may lean on one of rallying’s most decorated histories, but those leading its next chapter are already focused on the work ahead.
Testing of the new Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale began late last year ahead of the 2026 season, with Nikolay Gryazin and Yohan Rossel the drivers tasked with shaping the car’s competitive debut in WRC2.
For Gryazin, the first testing kilometres immediately set the tone - not just in terms of performance, but in how the project feels.
“It feels quite interesting,” he said. “Now we’ll start working with the car to make it better and better. I feel confident and also excited for the season. I have some test days now, and honestly, I don’t know how I’m going to sleep until Monte.”
That excitement is underpinned by a connection to the Lancia name that goes beyond branding or history books. While Gryazin is part of a generation that never competed through Lancia’s dominant era, his relationship with the marque is personal and long-standing.
© Lancia
“I’ve watched documentaries about Lancia in the past, so I have some knowledge of the history,” he explained. “My father competed with a Lancia Delta, and I’ve driven a Delta myself at RallyLegend. We also had a Delta Evo road car, so I have a lot of memories with this brand - especially the design, which I loved when I was a child. I think everyone in rallying has a little bit of Lancia in their heart.”
Rossel, who will contest the programme alongside co-driver Arnaud Dunand, shares that sense of respect for the name - even if his own memories come from a different place. For him, the opportunity is as much about energy and intent as heritage.
“To be honest, because I’m quite young, it’s difficult to really remember [Lancia’s previous WRC stint] first-hand - except through videos,” Rossel said. “But after the announcement, there was a crazy atmosphere and a huge amount of energy around the team. In the past I drove for Citroën, and now I’m with Lancia. For me, it’s one of the biggest brands in WRC history, and I’m really, really happy to be with Lancia this year.”
On the road, early impressions of the Ypsilon Rally2 have been positive, though Rossel is careful to frame those feelings within the realities of winter testing – particularly with Rallye Monte-Carlo looming as the season opener.
© WRC
“This was my first test on Tarmac,” he said at last month’s warm-up. “I’ve already driven the car on gravel, but it’s a completely different philosophy. For the moment, we’re really enjoying the car, but during testing it’s always difficult to know exactly where you are -especially in Monte Carlo, with snow and ice.”
Co-driver Dunand, meanwhile, highlighted the scale of the task facing the team as it prepares for its first competitive outing with a brand-new car in one of the championship’s most demanding events.
“Monte Carlo is always a tricky rally - the first of the year, on Tarmac, often with icy conditions,” he said. “With a brand-new car it’s even more challenging, but we’re working well with the team and everything is positive. We tested over three days in different locations, using all the Tarmac tyre options - studded, soft, super soft and mixed choices. Now we’ll analyse all the data with the engineers to be well prepared for the rally.”
