The news ahead of this weekend's Rally Sardinia follows months of speculation linking the Italian manufacturer, the most successful in World Rally Championship history having won 10 constructors' titles (1974-1976, 1983, 1987-1992), with a rallying comeback.

Following the announcement that it is reviving its famous HF [High Fidelity] brand in March, Lancia previewed its high performance all-electric Ypsilon HF and announced a combustion-based Rally4 programme.