WRC figures seek clarification following WMSC meeting regarding the commercial rights of the WRC being offered for tender

In an article on autosport.com there would appear to be confusion from senior figures within the WRC following the FIA's press statement following the WMSC decisions yesterday offering for tender the commercial rights to the series from 2010.

The rights are already owned by ISC and the contract is until December 2010. The leading manufacturers in the WRC are seeking immediate clarification from the FIA.

ISC chief executive Simon Long said to autosport.com:

I have spoken to a representative from the FIA and I now understand this is an inaccuracy on the part of the FIA and I expect that this point will be clarified. The FIA acknowledges that ISC is the commercial rights holder for WRC until the end of December 31, 2010."

There was no mention on the position of the global promoter, which was said to be central to yesterday's extraordinary meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris.

Long added:

I'm surprised there is no mention or any discussion. The [appointment of a] global rights holder is something which has been central to discussions between the stakeholders in the WRC for a long time now.

There was a general acceptance that this was something which would be tabled at World Motor Sport Council today.

The global promoter is in everybody's interest, not least ISC which feels it is best placed to take on the role. ISC has worked for a very long time to establish fine working relationships with all the stakeholders and we feel that under our new ownership (North One Television) we are in the right place to take the sport forward with a fantastic investment package for the future."

The FIA's statement read: "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 be announced at the start of Rally Ireland, the first round of the 2009 season."

Source: autosport.com

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