Hyundai Boss Reveals WRC's Five-Year Plan

A significant decision has finally been made in the world of rallying. The commercial rights to the WRC and the European Rally Championship (ERC) have officially moved to a new ownership group, marking a new chapter eagerly awaited by fans and teams alike. The announcement from the FIA on 31 July confirmed that the commercial rights of both championships will be managed by a group formed by Cosmobilis, a French automotive technology company, together with investment firm Park Square Capital.

Eric Boullier, a former Formula 1 executive, has been appointed as chief executive of the new organisation. This move immediately sparked optimism in the paddock, especially as the WRC prepares for major technical regulation changes next year. Hyundai, one of the main manufacturers loyal since 2014, welcomed the decision. Hyundai's sporting director, Andrew Wheatley, called it a strong signal of commitment to the future.

“From our point of view, it’s great to see that a strong decision has been made and that there is a clear commitment to the future,” Wheatley told RallyJournal. For him, the next step is to sit down with the new promoter to understand the direction of the WRC's development. Hyundai believes there is still significant untapped potential in the championship.

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“We need to work closely with the new partners and understand what the future looks like. We believe there is huge potential in the WRC, and we need to understand how we can work together to make the most of it,” he added. Initial discussions with the new owners have already begun, and interestingly, the talks are not only about the upcoming season.

Wheatley revealed that in preliminary meetings, they were presented with many long-term opportunities. “They’ve presented a lot of opportunities for the future, and it’s not just about this year or next year, but things stretching as far as five years ahead. That’s really exciting,” he said, describing the ambitions of the new investors.

This optimism comes amid long-standing concerns about the WRC's future. The small number of manufacturers, technical regulation changes, and slow commercial development have been major talking points. However, Wheatley believes this investment group seems to understand the WRC's potential well. He also stressed the importance of close cooperation between the new promoter and the FIA.

“The relationship with the FIA appears to be very close, which can only be a positive thing for the sport,” he said. Now, all parties need to align a clear vision for the future. “We need to work together and make sure we have a completely clear vision of where we’re going. I think that will be the key to success in this new era,” Wheatley concluded.