When the WRC Promoter sale was announced at the end of July, the FIA called it 'the deal of the century'. But behind the buzzwords, FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem carries a key lesson from the past: a major mistake in Formula 1's commercial negotiations that he does not want to repeat in the rally championship.
In an exclusive interview, Ben Sulayem expressed frustration with the F1 deal he inherited. "There is no other deal to the FIA which is as good as this. The rest of the deals that came before me were raw deals. I would say it very frankly. What did we get from Formula One? Zero and no power," he asserted. This statement underscores his determination to change the FIA's negotiation direction in the future.
The deal with Cosmobolis and Park Square Capital for WRC and the European Rally Championship is seen as a step forward. Ben Sulayem emphasized that this is not just about money, but about close collaboration between the FIA and the promoter. "It's about working together as one body, injecting funding back into the sport, listening to teams, drivers, fans, and media," he explained.
One key figure behind the scenes is Malcolm Wilson, who played a crucial role in pushing the WRC Promoter sale through. His experience in rallying is an asset during this ownership transition.
Ben Sulayem is optimistic about the future of WRC. He promised to inject funds into teams and the championship, and to increase media exposure. "We have great drivers, not only professionals but also privateers. If you remove the privateers, you don't have a race," he said. He also highlighted the importance of the technical side and the cars themselves.
With all these changes, Ben Sulayem is clear about the direction: "One thing I will say, the benefit, you will see it. We are discussing it now, it's only one direction: better." The question now is whether WRC will truly rise as he hopes.
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