The FIA will take over the running and promotion of the World and European Rallycross Championships, with immediate effect.
Started in 2014, World RX has welcomed some of motorsport’s greatest drivers with the likes of Sébastien Loeb, Petter Solberg, Mattias Ekström, Ken Block, Johan Kristoffersson, Andreas Bakkerud, Timmy and Kevin Hansen and Niclas Grönholm all competing at the peak of its powers.
The championship has, however, struggled to return to the popularity of the late 2010s with a delayed switch to electric power failing to have the desired effect.
WRC Promoter took over the running of the championship from IMG in 2021 (via its Rallycross Promoter arm), and introduced the ‘Battle of Technologies’ concept for 2024 where electric cars went up against their internal-combustion rivals.
More than 30 millions fans across 100 countries have tuned into World RX to catch the action
That aspect will remain part of the championship for 2025, with the FIA directly taking over the rights after “three months of market testing”.
It is said to be prioritising “free-to-air coverage and digital accessibility”, which would be a direct shift to the previous model with rallycross coverage part of WRC Promoter’s paywalled Rally.tv system.
Subject to approval by FIA World Motor Sport Council, the calendar for both championships will be revealed on Friday (March 14), with seven events in World and six in European.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: “The FIA is making an investment not only in rallycross, but in the future of our sport. We are fully committed to take this category to the next level by securing new global audiences, delivering the opportunity for an improved competition for the drivers, teams, our commercial partners, and crucially the fans.
“When I was elected, I pledged to deliver strong regulations and a stronger FIA, building an essential foundation for the success of motor sport at every level. Securing the future growth of our World Championships reflects my commitment to do just this.”
FIA junior road sport director, Emilia Abel, said “the championship has huge potential to grow and develop at a global level” and is “confident that this new opportunity for the FIA to operate the championship brings with it a bright future”.
Abel added: “The FIA will put fans and competitors at the heart of the work that is to come. All of us are looking forward to the 2025 season and being a part of this new era of rallycross.”
