WRC GETS MORE TV COVERAGE IN THE UK

More than 100 hours of World Rally Championship coverage is being lined up for British fans this season – with Channel 5 stepping in as a frontline broadcaster.

Free-to-air Channel 5 will screen an hour-long show at seven in the evening on the Monday after every round of the championship, starting with its Monte Carlo Rally review next week.

In addition to that, Channel 5’s other station, Spike Network, will run all 14 magazine shows, offering news and insight into the WRC on the Saturday evening before each round.

Channel 5 will ramp up its coverage for October’s Wales Rally GB, when there will be an end-of-day highlights show and the powerstage will be screened live.

Director of programmes at Channel 5, Ben Frow said: “We are excited to have such a fantastic sports brand to build on our growing portfolio of sports content. The World Rally Championship attracts a hugely loyal audience and we look forward to showing action from rallies around the world.”

BT Sport continues to offer in excess of 65 hours of WRC, including nightly reports from every day of every round and 30 live stages. In addition to the event timetabled coverage, BT Sport will continue to run archive shows regularly. S4C’S Welsh language Ralio show will also return, offering further world championship coverage.

Rally GB managing director Ben Taylor said: “Top class rallying is one of the world’s most dramatic sports and Channel 5’s commitment will allow United Kingdom’s viewers to follow more of the action as the WRC builds towards the legendary Welsh forests at the end of October.”