WRC 2
Ingram targets strong WRC2 return as full-season campaign begins
After several seasons of groundwork behind the scenes, Chris Ingram finally gets his long-awaited full-season shot at WRC2 in 2026 - and he believes the timing could not be better.
The 2019 European Rally Champion returns to the FIA World Rally Championship’s premier support category at Rallye Monte-Carlo, embarking on a seven-round campaign in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.
Ingram has made no secret of how long the programme has been in the making. After a part-season in WRC2 in 2022, limited budget and a deliberate pause last year - coinciding with the birth of his son - meant patience was required before mounting a genuine title challenge.
“The last few years have really been about working towards this,” he said. “I did half a season in WRC2 in 2022 and I think we did really well considering the circumstances, but it wasn’t the right time to go all-in. Last year I stepped away completely to get everything ready and make sure that when we came back, it was for a proper attempt.”
That attempt comes at a pivotal moment for the championship, with sweeping technical changes coming to the WRC’s top category in 2027.
Ingram and co-driver Alex Kihurani in action on Wednesday's shakedown
© Red Bull Content Pool
“With it being the last year of these [Rally1] regulations, I think it’s a crucial year,” Ingram admitted. “Next year will be a reset for everyone, so now is the time to prove a point. If you want to show what you can do and put yourself in the frame for the future, this is the window.”
A key part of that fresh push is Ingram’s switch from Škoda machinery to the GR Yaris Rally2, a move he says was driven as much by feeling as outright performance.
“The Yaris is way more fun to drive, as simple as that,” he smiled. “All the Rally2 cars are very close now, so it comes down to driver preference. For me, this car just feels right.
The Briton last contested Rallye Monte-Carlo in 2024
© Red Bull Content Pool
“I’ve not really driven this car properly on Tarmac before. I’ve done the recce here for the last four years, even when I wasn’t competing, so I know the stages well, but it’s about getting back up to speed and understanding the car on this surface. Oliver [Solberg] made some massive steps with it last year and it’s a lot more planted now, so I’m confident in the direction we’re going.”
While expectations are kept realistic, Ingram is clear about what would constitute a successful start to the season.
“A strong, clean return and good points on the board,” he said. “If everything comes together, a podium would be epic - I genuinely think that’s possible. There are some strong drivers in WRC2, but we just need to focus on our job and build momentum.”
