WRC
Rossel and Gryazin to spearhead Lancia’s WRC2 return in 2026
Lancia has confirmed Yohan Rossel and Nikolay Gryazin as its official drivers for the 2026 WRC2 season, with the pair set to lead the Italian brand’s factory programme on its return to the series.
The pair will compete in the new Lancia Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale under the Team Lancia Corse HF banner, with the programme beginning at the 94th Rallye Monte-Carlo from 22 - 25 January. Operations will be run by PH Sport, with support from Yacco and Sparco, and Didier Clément appointed as team principal.
Rossel arrives as the reigning WRC2 vice champion, having finished runner-up in the 2025 season alongside co-driver Arnaud Dunand. The Frenchman has built his career almost exclusively within the Stellantis group, previously claiming the WRC3 title in 2021 and establishing himself as one of the category’s most consistent frontrunners.
Gryazin joins after securing the 2025 WRC2 Challenger crown with Konstantin Aleksandrov. The 28-year-old brings extensive experience across asphalt, gravel and snow, having also claimed ERC Junior honours earlier in his career and multiple victories at WRC2 level.
Their joint appearance at Rallye Monte-Carlo will mark Lancia’s first works entry in the FIA World Rally Championship since the early 1990s. The marque remains the most successful manufacturer in the WRC’s history with 10 manufacturers’ titles in total.
Lancia CEO Roberta Zerbi said the choice of drivers reflected the brand’s ambition to compete immediately at the highest level of Rally2 competition.
“Lancia’s return to world rallying is an important step, and we approach it with a strong sense of responsibility,” Zerbi said. “Yohan and Nikolay bring distinct perspectives, a modern understanding of the sport, and the right attitude to grow alongside our project. The Ypsilon Rally2 HF Integrale was created to compete at the highest level, and the work of the Lancia Corse HF team allows us to look at this new chapter with confidence.”
Rossel said the opportunity represented a defining moment in his career.
“Discovering Lancia’s pedigree and listening to Miki Biasion, you immediately understand it is a brand that commands respect,” he said. “I am very proud to join Lancia with the same motivation I had at the start of my career. A new manufacturer, great ambitions and the desire to go even further - to win.”
Gryazin echoed that sentiment as he prepares for his first season as a Lancia works driver.
“It is a tremendous honour for me to be part of this story,” he said. “With the team, we share the same ambitions: to fight at the front, to keep improving every day and to bring this legendary name back to its rightful place.”
Clément said the pairing offered the ideal balance for Lancia’s return to the championship.
“To mark the return of an iconic brand, we needed drivers capable of fighting for victory at every rally,” he said. “Yohan and Arnaud embody loyalty and consistency, while Nikolay and Konstantin bring winning experience at the highest level of WRC2. Together, they give us a very strong foundation for this programme.”
Interest in the Ypsilon Rally2 HF has been strong since its unveiling, with more than 40 cars already ordered for international and national competition.
