The president of the FIA, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, has confirmed that the announcement regarding the new holder of the commercial rights for the World Rally Championship (WRC) will be made in the next three weeks. This news comes at a crucial time for the competition after the previous company, WRC Promoter, decided to sell its commercial rights.
The changes in the promotion of the WRC have generated considerable anticipation, especially after it was announced that the group owning WRC Promoter, which includes Red Bull and KW25, was preparing its sale for 2024. The FIA communicated last August that it would facilitate a bidding process to find a new holder of the commercial rights, although the final announcement has yet to arrive.
According to recent reports, the sale process is in its final stages, with the French company Cosmobilis as the main candidate to take over the commercial rights of the WRC. Cosmobilis, led by Eric Boullier, former head of the Formula 1 teams Lotus and McLaren, could ensure a new direction for the championship.
Moreover, the vision of the new holder on the future of the WRC will be a key factor for automobile manufacturers to decide whether to commit resources to adapt to the new technical regulations of 2027. The impatience for the decision has also caused delays in finalizing the sporting regulations of the championship for 2027.
Ben Sulayem promised a graphical update on the situation during a press conference at the Le Mans 24 Hours, assuring that details will be resolved soon: “In the coming days, I will close matters related to one of the disciplines closest to my heart: rallying. The new holder of the WRC’s commercial rights will be confirmed within three weeks. If I don’t succeed, I myself will be the first to take the blame”.
The FIA president added that a new commercial rights contract between the FIA and the new promoter will be drafted, which could last up to 25 years. The funds generated from the sale will be reinvested in the championship to ensure its long-term viability.
According to Ben Sulayem, the goal is to make participation in the WRC more financially accessible, so that the new generation of vehicles, expected for 2027, will need to cost around €350,000. This restructuring aims to significantly reduce operating costs, making the championship attractive to more manufacturers.
Currently, Toyota is the only confirmed manufacturer to compete next year, with other teams like Project RallyOne and RMC Motorsport working on vehicles in accordance with the new regulations for 2027.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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