Abbring gets four more rallies with Hyundai
Outings confirmed in Poland, Germany, France and Wales
Nine inital rallies named for 2016
WRC Promoter has proposed an initial nine rallies for inclusion in the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship calendar.
The nine events have multi-year agreements and were approved at Tuesday’s (12 May) meeting of the FIA World Rally Championship Commission in Paris. They will be submitted for final ratification to the World Motor Sport Council.
The nine nominated rounds are: Monte-Carlo (21 - 24 January), Sweden (12 - 14 February), and with dates still to be confirmed, Argentina, Australia, Finland, Italy, Mexico, Poland and Spain. All are subject to a satisfactory running in 2015.
The early nomination of these rallies will allow planning for 2016 to begin as soon as possible. Further events will be proposed with a view to finalising the calendar by September at the latest.
WRC Promoter managing director Oliver Ciesla said the early nomination of dates for the opening two rounds would benefit organisers, teams, partners and fans.
“WRC is unlike other FIA world championship in that it begins in January and so we have the luxury to select the dates for Rallye Monte-Carlo and Rally Sweden in the knowledge there will be no conflicts.
“It’s a conscious decision that allows all nine events to start planning and making preparations as soon as possible, and we look forward to final approval of these rallies by the WMSC,” he said.
“We also have exciting proposals on the table from countries not currently on the calendar and discussions have started with a view to bringing at least one, and perhaps two, of those events onto next year’s calendar.
“However, we will most likely aim to maintain the same number of rounds in the championship,” added Ciesla.
More News
Rally rewind: Portugal 2014
This one was all about tyre preservation
Meeke's Xsara tribute to McRae
Citroën driver to pilot Xsara WRC in McRae livery