The World Rally Championship (WRC) will inaugurate a new period of media coverage thanks to a three-year broadcasting rights agreement with the BBC, starting in late 2027.
Under this agreement, the BBC will provide live coverage of selected stages, including the Power Stage, along with 60-minute highlight shows of each rally. Additionally, detailed coverage of the Rally Scotland will be included, thus returning the WRC to the UK after a long absence since 2019.
This announcement marks a significant moment, as it is the first time the WRC will be broadcast by the BBC since 2001, when the contract was lost in favor of Channel 4. The new coverage will be a collaboration between BBC Scotland, BBC Cymru Wales, and BBC Northern Ireland, who will combine resources and talent to deliver a spectacular television experience.
The audience will be able to follow the WRC action through BBC iPlayer, as the agreement also includes digital rights, allowing content sharing across various platforms of the channel. Rhuanedd Richards, Director of BBC Nations, highlighted that this addition represents a significant boost to the BBC’s sports portfolio and a special attraction for fans.
The CEO of WRC Promoter, Eric Boullier, noted that the agreement with the BBC represents an important step to increase the visibility of the championship in the UK, a vital market for the discipline. With the return of the Rally Scotland, the timing could not be better to reaffirm the presence of the WRC in a historic market.
Coinciding with this announcement, Rally Scotland has unveiled a new logo symbolizing its new identity, with a design aimed at reflecting the essence of the rally and its connection to the country. Hugh Chambers, CEO of Motorsport UK, stated that this step is crucial for the event’s development leading up to 2027.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
SourceID: SRC_7c9ca0b07e7d6baa92dd3204c69e71c288c2c330