No World Promoter for WRC Appointed by FIA yet

Yesterday's World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris was thought to reveal the name of the global promoter for the World Rally Championship but that decision has been postponed until the start of the next season.

This doesn't bode well for some of the seniors of the circuit, such as Ford and Citroen, who must have sought a resolution by the end of the year. Ford has not yet confirmed its participation in next year's championship while Citroen has committed to WRC until the end of 2009.

The governing body for FIA said in a statement that “The FIA will invite tenders for the Commercial Rights to the FIA World Rally Championship from 2010. The tender will be published on 16 October 2008 and close on 15 November 2008. The winning tender will announced at the start of Rally Ireland, the first round of the 2009 season”.

The most likely candidate for that position looks to be the North One Television, owner of the Sportsworld Communications, the current holder of the commercial rights for WRC.

Ford boss Malcolm Wilson was quoted as saying that “the one things that the sport needs as this moment in time is a global promoter. It is something that the manufacturers' have been working with the FIA on to try to find a solution”, a clear sign towards his less than happy attitude. This comes in as the WRC remains the only FIA championship that doesn't have a global promoter yet.