The WRC event director, Simon Larkin, says that US and China may be added to WRC calendar in the future as United States is expected to rejoin World Rally Championship in 2025.
World Rally Championship has lost its prestige the recent years compared to the past as the competition is not too big due to the fact that there are only two manufacturers and one semi-manufacturer team. In addition to that, the calendar is mainly based in Europe and it is very difficult for it to be changed as the majority of the events is almost the same every year. However, WRC Promoter and FIA are working on a 14-event calendar and on bringing back some rallies, such as China. WRC has only visited China once back in 1999 where Didier Auriol was victorious there with a Toyota Corolla WRC while it must be mentioned that it was scheduled for WRC drivers to visit that country in 2016, but eventually this event was cancelled due to weather damage. On the other hand, US hosted a WRC round five times (Detroit was the host city from 1973 to 1974 while the rally center moved to Tacoma from 1986 to 1988) and included gravel stages.
"There is huge demand for new events to join or other events to rejoin the world championship", Larkin said.
"I don't mind admitting that the US is a strategic target of ours.
"Peter [Thul, WRC senior sporting director] and I have clear direction from our board and shareholders about China.
"They remain our two strategic key targets.
"The US is the most likely to come in 2025 and then China as quickly as we can.
"We are trying to find time on our schedule to go to China to do a road trip this year of a number of interested cities that we are already in discussion with".
Source: Motorsport.com
Photo Credits: Motorsport Images
Post a Comment