The fans prove that WRC is a big hit

The launch of the 2019 season at Autosport International got the juices flowing

Moving the reveal of the 2019 World Rally Championship at the NEC last week to one of the public days at Autosport International was an idea of genius proportions. The championship is all about its connection with the fans and to put the series front and centre is something that was needed, and the reaction it got fully justified the switch.

Given the proximity of the opening round of the championship – which is only two weeks away when the teams will regroup in Monte Carlo to begin battle – the effort that the teams and drivers put in to spreading the word of the WRC was impressive.

It is always fascinating to hear the bullish proclamations from each driver and team boss about the expected level of performance during the season ahead. But every top-level driver in the WRC has a reason to be optimistic. The WRC is probably one of the most competitive global competitions in motorsport at the moment, and now the driver merry-go-round has halted ahead of the fresh challenge, the portents are that the 2019 contest could be even more of a dogfight than the 2018 version was. Whatever the stories that unfold between Monte Carlo and Rally Australia in November, the major players will remember the excitement created at Autosport International before any of those chapters had been written. Matt James, Editor (Twitter: @Mattjmnews)