Three Chinese manufacturers are showing active interest in the potential for a World Rally Championship program – and China itself is pushing hard for a calendar slot in the very near future.
FIA deputy president Malcolm Wilson has identified China as a ‘clear target’ for the WRC in terms of both a competing carmaker and as a destination for the series.
“We want a Chinese manufacturer,” Wilson told DirtFish. “The promoter is aware of that and we’re working very hard together. It’s a clear target. We’re looking at big investment [into the WRC] and a big attack to reduce the cost – something we’re very much doing already with the regulation for the ’27 car.
“And for the rally, there are two [different groups of] people looking to put an event on in China. We want to have an event there. We know there’s work to do, but this is one of the really positive things for the WRC is that are so, so many countries interested to host a round of the World Rally Championship. This gives us real confidence to keep doing what we’re doing.”
China last hosted a WRC round in 1999, but was included as a round of the 2016 WRC. Ten years ago, the proposed all-asphalt event was cancelled following storm damage and flooding in the Huairou region, the mountains north of Beijing where the event was set to run.
Offering more detail on the potential for inbound Chinese carmakers, FIA technical director Xavier Mestelan Pinon said: “We have, within our organization, what we call the manufacturer committee; it’s more or less all the manufacturers who are involved in world championships. And in this committee, we already have three Chinese manufacturers, which is very recent. And we have two other manufacturers who are in discussion with us to be registered in this committee.
“So it’s just a signal that Chinese manufacturers are now very close to our championship, more and more, which is something which is really a factor.”
FIA road sport director Emilia Abel confirmed she had been involved in meetings with Chinese manufacturers at Dakar in January, adding interest was “really impressive.”
Chinese brand Lynk & Co and its parent brand Geely Auto are two understood to have an interest in the WRC.
