The running of the European Rally Championship will be taken over by WRC Promoter next season.
For the first time in history the ERC will now sit under the same promotional and sporting umbrella as the World Rally Championship. The FIA has, of course, always regulated both series.
DirtFish understands the deal is at contract stage, with an announcement due in the coming weeks.
FIA rally director Yves Matton declined to comment on a specific move, but said: “In the view of a proper pyramid in the different rally championships, to have the same promoter would make sense.”
Precise details of what WRC Promoter taking over ERC means for the current European calendar are still being decided.
The ERC will become the third FIA-sanctioned series in WRC Promoter’s portfolio, following its acquisition of World Rallycross in February.
WRC Promoter declined to comment.
The move will end Eurosport Events’ promotion of the European Rally Championship one year early. Eurosport took over ERC with a 10-year contract starting in 2013.
DirtFish has contacted the European Rally Championship for a response.
As well as the ERC, Eurosport currently promotes the WTCR – World Touring Car Cup and the electric PURE ETCR series, which will launch this year and will become the FIA eTouring Car World Cup from 2022.
Its parent company, the Discovery Group, has also been appointed promoter of the new Electric GT Championship that is due to begin in 2023.
