Nine-time World Rally champion Sébastioen Ogier has led a positive service park response to news of the sale of the WRC Promoter, announced by the FIA on Friday.
The agreement was confirmed while the Frenchman completed the first full day of competition at Secto Rally Finland. Asked for his response to the deal, Ogier said he could only see the sale as good news.
“It’s obviously good news,” Ogier told DirtFish. “I think the sport needs that. It needs some strong commitment and some people who have some ambition to try to bring our sport in a better place. So I can only see that as good news.”
Ogier’s Toyota team-mate and world championship leader Elfyn Evans echoed that sentiment, adding: “I think it’s been very long-awaited news and I think everybody had a sense of anticipation for what was to com,e and I think there was a lot of anticipation to get to work. Now that it’s all done, I’m looking forward to seeing some steps forward now.”
Hyundai driver Adrien Fourmaux added: “I just would like to welcome the new promoter and say I have some hope for the future of this sport. They can do some very good things and let’s see what they can bring.”
Reflecting on the long-term rights agreement coming from the FIA, CEO of the new WRC Promoter Éric Boullier said: “Alongside the FIA and our partners, we want to make every round a spectacular event, designed to thrill fans around the world. The goal is clear: to establish the WRC and ERC as world-class global brands and a driver of sustainable growth, closely aligned with today’s technological and environmental challenges.”
Full service park reaction to Friday’s news is available on Club DirtFish.
