WRC PROMOTER CONFIRMS 2018 CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR

WRC Promoter confirms 2018 championship calendar

·Thirteen rounds announced for 2018 FIA World Rally Championship
·Turkey returns to WRC for first time since 2010
·Spain becomes final European round after date swap with Britain

Munich, Germany, 21 September 2017 – WRC Promoter has announced the 2018 FIA World Rally Championship calendar today (Thursday).

The 13-round calendar marks the return of Turkey after a seven-year absence. It replaces Poland in the fixture list, which was approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Paris this afternoon.

The championship begins with the traditional season-opening Rallye Monte-Carlo in January and features a mix of gravel, asphalt, snow and ice action across four continents to find the world’s best all-round driver.

Innovations for 2018 include:

·Turkey returns to the WRC for the first time since 2010. The 10th round will be based in the popular international holiday resort of Marmaris, in the south-west of the country, on 13 – 16 September.

The gravel event will feature fast to medium-speed special stages, including a mix of smooth open roads near Marmaris and more demanding rocky mountain passes in Mugla state.

Turkish motorsport federation TOSFED will organise the rally, which will be one of the most compact in WRC history with several stages starting or finishing close to the service park. The speed tests hug the coast in places, guaranteeing dramatic TV images for fans.

WRC manufacturers Toyota, Hyundai and Ford build vehicles in Turkey, which was Europe’s fifth largest automotive producer in 2016 with almost 1.5 million vehicles constructed.

Marmaris is a stylish Mediterranean resort along the Turkish Riviera. It sits in a valley between pine-forested mountains and the sea and is a popular sailing destination and beach holiday location.

·The season begins later than in 2017 as Monte-Carlo moves back a week to 25 – 28 January. The second round in Sweden is also seven days later on 15 – 18 February.

·Following the seventh round in Italy on 7 – 10 June, there will be a six-week break before the second half of the season begins in Finland on 26 – 29 July.

·Great Britain switches from late October and will run three weeks earlier on 4 – 7 October, allowing the event to also count for the British Rally Championship.
·Spain swaps with Great Britain to become the final European round and the penultimate event of the season. It reverts to its more traditional slot on 25 – 28 October.
WRC Promoter managing director Oliver Ciesla said the 2018 calendar offered heritage and originality.

“The 2018 season brings an enticing blend of WRC tradition and history, in the form of classic and long-standing rounds such as Sweden, Argentina and Finland, with a welcome return to Turkey,” he said.

“Turkey is a hugely important automotive market, in terms of sales and manufacturing. Record sales of almost a million vehicles were recorded in 2016 and the sporting reasons for its reintroduction are matched by a compelling business rationale.

“We offer manufacturers the opportunity to showcase their products in a championship focused on production-based cars, and I’m delighted Turkey’s return was unanimously supported by our participating manufacturers,” he added.

The 2018 calendar is:

Monte-Carlo – 25 – 28 January
Sweden – 15 – 18 February
Mexico – 8 – 11 March
France – 5 – 8 April
Argentina – 26 – 29 April
Portugal – 17 – 20 May
Italy – 7 – 10 June
Finland – 26 – 29 July
Germany – 16 – 19 August
Turkey – 13 – 16 September
Great Britain – 4 – 7 October
Spain – 25 – 28 October
Australia – 15 – 18 November
ends

About WRC Promoter GmbH

WRC Promoter GmbH is responsible for all commercial aspects of the FIA World Rally Championship, including TV production and the marketing of global media and sponsorship rights. The Promoter also has responsibility to increase the field of participants and to propose the venues that form the FIA WRC calendar.

The World Rally Championship is the FIA’s premium rally series. WRC showcases authentic motorsport, high performance cars and the world’s best drivers competing in dramatic surroundings ranging from the ice and snow of Scandinavia to the stifling heat of Sardinia. Established in its current format in 1973, WRC participants battle for the drivers’ and manufacturers’ world titles at 13 rallies spanning 15 countries and four continents. Additional championship information can be found at www.wrc.com and www.wrcplus.com.

Next rally: RallyRACC Catalunya – Rally de España, 5 – 8 October 2017

Mark Wilford
PR and Communications Manager
WRC Promoter GmbH

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