New WRC promotor

WRC has a new promotor. After reaching an agreement with the FIA, German The Sportsman Media Group together with partner Red Bull Media House steps in as global promotor for WRC from 2013.

– We are getting two very strong companies with a solid financial foundation for developing the championship. It’s great and really makes me look forward to a bright future for the WRC, says Glenn Olsson, CEO of Svenska Rallyt AB.

The Sportsman Media Group and Red Bull Media House will be responsible for, in close colaboration with the FIA, marketing and developing the WRC. One focus for the new promotor will be live-TV, as well as building a digital media strategy for the future.

The choice of new promotor was made public by the FIA Septermber 28, following the World Council meeting in Paris.

On that meeting other changes to the WRC were decided.

• The WRC calendar for 2013 was finalised. Monte Carlo is the premiere rally in January, followed byt Rally Sweden February 7-10. The final is in Wales, mid-November.

• The supporting classes change. There will be a new championship for four wheel drive cars, FIA WRC-2, replacing SWRC. WRC-2 will hold R5-, R4- and S2000-cars. A cup for Group N cars will also be included.

Production Car World Rally Championship, PWRC, is replaced by FIA WRC-3 for two wheel drive cars – R3, R2 and R1.

• WRC Academy changes name and gets official WRC status – FIA Junior WRC Championship.

• To reduce costs and attract more competitors to the WRC, FIA has decided that WRC Teams in 2013 only need to start in one rally outside Europe. They still need to take part in at least seven of the thirteen rallies in the WRC.

When it comes to the calendar, Svenska Rallyt AB is talking to the FIA regarding a three-year contract.

– The FIA wants to have longer contracts with a number of organisers and hopefully we are one of them, Olsson says.

Photo: Citroën