“The FIA wants to turn the WRC more global and focus on car manufacturers while the ERC will remain Euro-centric, cost-efficient and dedicated to teams.
We therefore see no conflict of interest between both championships and we are committed to avoiding any clash of dates.”
François Ribeiro (Eurosport)
When you start a project saying that there’ll be no conflict of interest with existing organizations you’re obviously admitting that such conflict is likely to happen!
With a specially manufacturers designed category (R5), a large scale calendar (at least 12 events) disputed over the rallysport main continent (Europe) and the full commitment of a strong media organization (Eurosport), it’s quite clear that this new IRC (under the ERC badge) won’t be a 2nd level rally series dedicated to teams, and eventually will become a WRC rival championship.
So, from 2014 (2013 ERC season will be a transitional one, before the R5 full entry) we'll have 2 major FIA international rally series fighting each other for manufacturers involvement and TV audiences...
Strange? Maybe not. Odd things has happen to rallysport so many times before that it seems there’s always a twisted way to ensure F1 undisputed motor racing lead!
