Hyundai's Adrien Fourmaux has shared his first impressions of the new WRC promoter after taking part in discussions involving all drivers and teams. In an interview with Rallye-Sport, the Frenchman welcomed the promoter's initiative to reshape the world of rallying.
“My first impressions are very good. First of all, they wanted to arrange meetings with each team, attended by all the drivers. For me, that was a first. They presented their plan of action to us,” Fourmaux said. He added that this was not just a one-off meeting, with further discussions set to continue. “They realise they need us to develop the sport, and they listened to us carefully.”
Fourmaux believes the promoter genuinely understands the current issues. “I think they genuinely understand the problems we currently have. And I wouldn’t say they are impossible to solve. I think they are entirely solvable,” he stated. One of the main topics discussed was the aim of attracting new spectators and helping them discover the sport.
“One of the ideas presented is to organise a service for spectators that would take them to the special stages. It could perhaps be a paid service, allowing people with no knowledge of the sport to discover it in good conditions, for example from a viewing area reserved for them,” Fourmaux explained. He stressed that this innovation must not disrupt the experience of regular spectators. “Of course, it must not change anything for regular spectators. But what we do nowadays is absolutely incredible, and we need to make people outside the sport more aware of it.”
Additionally, a lot of work is planned on social media to raise the WRC’s profile. “Many new things can be introduced,” he added. The format of the rally’s final day, and the Power Stage in particular, has also been discussed. One option under consideration would be to run just one special stage twice on Sunday. “As long as the special stage is as long as the ones in Estonia or Finland, I don’t see a problem with it. However, I don’t think such a format can be applied in every country and at every rally,” Fourmaux reflected.
The new promoter also wants to bring the Power Stage closer to the service park. “Work has already been done on this, but they want to go even further,” he said. This is expected to attract more VIP guests and high-profile figures. “In Paraguay, it was great to have the President of the Republic with us on the podium,” he recalled.
These changes bring fresh hope for Hyundai and other teams that have long awaited improvements in WRC governance. With an inclusive approach and a focus on spectator experience, the new promoter aims to take rallying to the next level. Fourmaux and his colleagues hope these plans can be realised soon and have a positive impact on all parties.
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