RX4 brings Rally DNA back to European Rallycross as entries open for 2026 season

Rally-specification cars are set to return to wheel-to-wheel international rallycross competition for the first time in more than three decades, marking a landmark moment for the discipline with the introduction of the new RX4 category.

Approved by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) as part of an evolution of the Off-Road pyramid, RX4 opens the door for Rally4 machinery to compete directly on mixed-surface rallycross circuits. The move represents a major step towards improving affordability and accessibility within the sport. Reconnecting rallycross with its foundations while welcoming a new generation of competitors and fans to the sport.

Since rallycross first emerged in the early 1970s, before becoming an FIA-regulated championship in 1976, competition gradually evolved away from rally-based machinery towards increasingly specialised supercar-style vehicles. The arrival of RX4 marks the return of rally-derived cars to rallycross grids for the first time since the spectacular Group B era and early 1990s – a period widely regarded as one of the sport’s defining chapters.

Based on existing Rally4 regulations, RX4 cars require only minimal modifications for rallycross competition. Weighing approximately 1080kg and powered by 1.3-litre turbocharged engines, the category delivers competitive performance while dramatically lowering costs. With cars expected to cost around €70,000, representing a substantial reduction compared to traditional rallycross machinery

By utilising production-based rally platforms, RX4 provides an affordable route into competition for drivers already active in rallying, while also encouraging new entrants to take their first steps into rallycross. With no limitation on entries for the 2026 season, the category is expected to significantly expand participation across the championship.

The introduction also forms part of a wider long-term regulatory vision from the FIA, which will see rallying and rallycross aligned more closely than ever before. From 2028, the top categories of the FIA World Rally Championship and FIA World Rallycross Championship are set to share a common technical platform, creating stronger manufacturer relevance and clearer progression pathways across both disciplines.

Alongside RX4, the FIA is also introducing RX5, a category focused on talent identification and development. Designed as an accessible and cost-controlled class, RX5 will boost participation while acting as a talent detection platform to help emerging drivers progress through the rallycross ranks. Competitors interested in joining the 2026 season are invited to register their full season entries by 13^th March or race by race 28 days before each event via http://registrations.fia.com/europeanrx, with the new categories expected to attract strong interest from competitors looking to take advantage of this new pathway into international competition.

James Nixon, Rallycross Sporting Manager at the FIA, said: “The introduction of RX4 represents a fundamental shift in how drivers can access rallycross. By bringing rally-based cars back onto the grid, we are lowering the barriers to entry and increasing the reach of the sport. Creating a category built around affordable, widely available cars allows more competitors to take part and helps attract a new generation of drivers and fans. “