The World Rally Championship (WRC) is gearing up for an ambitious expansion plan, targeting China and the USA as key markets for its future growth. The return to the USA, after a hiatus since 1988, is on the horizon, potentially as early as 2025 through the Rally USA project, headquartered in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Furthermore, China has also emerged as a high-priority destination, building on the series' previous experiences in the country.
China has previously hosted a WRC round back in 1999, with Toyota driver Didier Auriol emerging victorious. Plans were also in place for a round in China in 2016, but adverse weather conditions led to the cancellation of the event. However, WRC representatives are now exploring opportunities to re-enter the Chinese market, with discussions already underway with several interested cities keen on hosting future championships.
WRC event director Simon Larkin expressed the organization's eagerness for expansion, stating, "There is a huge demand for new events to join or other events to rejoin the world championship. The US is a strategic target, and Peter Thul [WRC senior sporting director] and I have clear direction from our board and shareholders regarding China. These remain our two strategic key targets. The US is the most likely to join in 2025, and then we hope to bring China into the fold as quickly as possible."
Efforts to reintroduce the USA to the WRC have been ongoing, with a commitment to ensure the event's success before inclusion in the calendar. The FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) attended a demonstration event organized by Rally USA in April, receiving positive feedback. However, the next steps involve aligning with ASNs (National Sporting Authorities) and securing the necessary insurance requirements, which can be a complex and time-consuming process in the US.
Peter Thul elaborated on the challenges, saying, "There is a process and an alignment with the ASN that has to be done, and it takes some time, especially in the US. This is something we have asked the FIA president to support us on, and he has promised to do it properly."
Larkin emphasized the importance of working closely with ASNs, stating, "Any world championship, whether it is Formula 1 or us, an ASN is an essential part of that as it is an FIA world championship. The US, in terms of having rallying at a high level, it is a big step, for example, to where they are with the American Rallying Association. It is a well-run championship but it is regional rallying at most. From that to a WRC event in complexity and insurance, the US is an incredibly complicated market for insurance."
The WRC aims to craft a calendar that includes both a USA round and at least one in South America, with Argentina anticipated to represent the latter by 2025 at the latest. As the WRC maps out its expansion plans, motorsport enthusiasts around the world eagerly await the inclusion of these new and exciting destinations on the rally circuit.