Germany set to gain calendar reprieve

FIA president Jean Todt says the delay in delivery of the World Rally Championship calendar is a reflection of the series’ growing popularity.

Present at last week’s Rally Turkey, the president of the sport’s governing body said the 2020 schedule of events would be delivered in “a very short time”. FIA rally director Yves Matton admitted the October 4 World Motor Sport Council meeting in Cologne remained the most likely date.

“In a way, it’s a good problem to have,” said Todt. “We wanted to keep the calendar with 14 rallies

[for next season] and we had more interest than 14 organisers, so we have to make a long-term strategy in order to keep 14 rallies in the calendar and choose the best event on a long-term basis.

“It takes some time, you need to discuss with different people and you need to adjust it. But now I would say we are in the final part of the strategy conclusion and it’s a very short time before we finalise it. It means there is a lot of interest from strong promoters and countries to organise rallying.”

The latest version of the calendar shows Monte Carlo, Sweden, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Portugal, Sardinia, Kenya, Germany, Finland, New Zealand, Turkey, GB, and Japan. Spain is understood to have been dropped in favour of Germany at the behest of the FIA.

WRC Promoter managing director Oliver Ciesla declined to comment on the calendar and when asked as a Frenchman, how he felt about Corsica’s absence, Todt replied: “We don’t care, it’s not because I’m French I have to favourise [sic] or not favourise [a French round]. Do you have a copy of the calendar? Let’s speak when we get the calendar rather than talk about speculation. You won’t get anything from me about the 2020 calendar.”