WRC Commission (Feb. 5, 2025) – Media Update

Media update following the WRC Commission meeting on February 5, 2025.

The first WRC Commission meeting of 2025 took place yesterday, Wednesday 5 February, via video conference. Key topics of discussion included the 2025 strategy, the timeline for tenders and the development of the 2026 WRC regulations, the plan and objectives of the WRC Promotion Working Group and WRC Promoter’s vision for leveraging data and technology to enhance WRC coverage and storytelling. The meeting was chaired by WRC Commission President Pernilla Solberg and FIA WRC Category Manager Marina Duñach.

The following is an overview of the key discussion points and decisions.

WRC sporting updates 

WRC sporting groups will restart on a bi-monthly basis after Rally Sweden, with the stated objective of finalising the drafting of the 2026 WRC regulations by September for submission to the World Motor Sport Council in October. 

The selection criteria and available options for the Junior WRC partner from 2026, as well as the possible creation of a WRC4 category in the championship for registered Rally4 cars, will be considered by the Sporting Working Group. Another key discussion point will be the definition of a framework, to be applied from 2026, aimed at helping WRC organisers develop rally itineraries that maintain a better work/rest ratio for crews and all those involved in the championship.

Digital transformation for improved storytelling

WRC Promoter provided a presentation on its strategy for a better use of technology in the WRC to collect more data and insights, with the aim to create new tools that benefit all stakeholders and enhance coverage and storytelling.

FIA Safety Task Force deployed for Rally Japan

The WRC Commission agreed to issue a Yellow Card, as proposed by the FIA Closed Road Commission, to the Japan Automobile Federation (JAF) regarding Rally Japan due to safety issues encountered during the 2024 edition last November. Consequently, the FIA Safety Department will deploy a dedicated task force focused on training the marshals and enhancing the workflow between rally control and safety crews on the stages.

FIA Head of Operational Safety Clément Lauté also presented the new structure of the Closed Road Safety group during the session. The team includes WRC Safety Manager and Delegate Nicolas Klinger, who now works for the FIA full-time, who is assisted on WRC stages by Priit Priimägi, serving as WRC Deputy Safety Delegate, as well as the department’s new hire, Closed Road Safety Engineer Yann Dion.

WRC winning crews to be awarded with FIA President’s Medal

As in Formula 1, the winning crew of each WRC event will receive a new FIA President’s Medal, starting with the WRC’s Spanish round, Rally Islas Canarias. This initiative ensures that the FIA medal will be awarded as part of the podium ceremony to honour the driver and co-driver’s achievement, allowing them to keep it as a personal record of their success. The winning crews of first three rounds will receive their award retrospectively.