WRC to USA?

[rdjones]

This just in from Eurosport.co.uk

North America is likely to have a round of the world rally championship soon, as the sport expands globally. "We're certainly looking at America and we're discussing with a number of people over there for events," said David Richards, whose ISC marketing company runs rallying.

"We're talking to an event in Canada, we're looking at Mexico and a couple of events in America. "I would expect that within the next three years we will find place in the championship for an American round," he said after Sunday's British rally.

The world championship, won by British driver Richard Burns in a Subaru on Sunday and manufacturers Peugeot, currently has 14 rounds and takes in Argentina alone in the Americas. The United States hosted the Press-On-Regardless rally in the 1970s while Canada had the Rideau Lakes and Quebec Rally in the same decade.

Richards, who bought the world rally rights from Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone last year, said expansion beyond 14 rounds was likely. "For the moment we couldn't cope with more than 14 rounds in terms of the logistics but I foresee a time in the not too distant future when we could increase that," he said "We have to get all the other aspects right first."

Australia, New Zealand and Kenya are the other countries outside of Europe that hosted the 2001 series but China has been visited in the past and Richards has spoken of a Japanese round as well.

Richards said he had agreed a deal with America's Fox television network to show next year's world championship in that country.

He said the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington had not had a major financial impact on a championship involving carmakers Ford, Mitsubishi, Peugeot, Subaru, Skoda and Hyundai. "Lots of commercial partners are coming on board who all see the opportunity that this championship has in a direct and relevant way to their products," he said.

[JPBeltoise]

Also, the Olympus Rally was on the calendar from 1986 (the last Group B rally ever -- I'll never forget huddling in the damp forests of Washington state in December of that year, watching the classic battle between Juha Kankunnen in the Peugeot 205 and Markku Alen in the Lancia Delta S4) through 1988. So I hope the championship makes a return to the United States, or anywhere in North America, for that matter. (And maybe that would convince Mitsubishi to sell the Evo VII on these shores, too...)

[Old Hairpin]

They could have the Dukes of Hazard Rally. Squeel like a peeg boy!

[KC]

The Cherokee Trail Rally was officially observed by the FIA this year to ascertain if the area, the management and if America was ready to host a WRX round. The gravel roads around Nashville and southeastern Tennessee proved to be excellent and the European drivers gave it all high marks. The SCCA was cited as needing a little more organization, but it is truly a volunteer effort. I know the manufacturers are pushing hard. Subaru is now selling the hot selling WRX version in the US, Mitsubiushi is selling the Lancer (though not anything close to the EVO series), and Ford is enjoying great sales on the Focus. I doubt the rally would mean anything for Citroen or Peugeot as they are not sold here, but that could change.

I hope that the WRX coverage we currently get on Speedvision makes it onto Fox. I did notice that ESPN2 had video footage from the British Rally on RPM2Nite. That is a very good sign that the media is interested in reporting it.

[fast95pony]

I would love to see WRC in Canada !!
Finding some challenging roads would not be at all difficult.
If it's marketed well,I'm sure it would be a financial success !!

Alan