The BBC, the UK's public-service broadcaster, is to cover motor racing's World Rally Championship (WRC) series for the first time since 2001, next year.
A three-season agreement between the BBC and the WRC Promoter series owner (newly acquired) has been unveiled today, through which the broadcaster will provide live, free-to-air, coverage of every WRC round (but not of the entirety of all races) between 2027 and 2029.
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This tie-up comes following the announcement earlier this year that Scotland will host a WRC round from 2027, marking the UK's return to staging action from the series for the first time in eight years. The complete calendar for next year is still being finalized.
This year, UK coverage of the WRC is being provided by pay-TV's TNT Sports and commercial free-to-air broadcaster ITV.
In terms of the BBC's WRC coverage, it will air five live stages from each WRC round, as well as the Power Stage, while also providing 14 hour-long highlight programs.
For the Rally Scotland event specifically, meanwhile, the BBC will provide live coverage across all four days of the race.
Finally, there will be digital clips and other content made available across the BBC's range of platforms.
Coverage is set to be delivered as part of a collaboration between BBC Scotland, BBC Wales, and BBC Northern Ireland (which form part of the BBC Nations arm).
Eric Boullier, WRC Promoter's chief executive, added: "The BBC is one of the country’s most trusted and influential media organisations, and its powerful combination of television, digital and social platforms gives us a unique opportunity to reconnect with existing rally fans while introducing the championship to a new generation.
"With Rally Scotland joining the calendar next year, the timing could not be better to strengthen the WRC’s presence in such an important and historic market for rallying.”
Rally Scotland will be based at P&J Live at The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA), which will include an indoor service park, rally headquarters, event arena, and conference and seminar space.
The Scottish race is expected to be allocated a northern-hemisphere autumn slot.
For the WRC, meanwhile, early August saw French automotive group Cosmobilis and private credit investor Park Square Capital secure commercial rights to the series, alongside the European Rally Championships, in a landmark deal with the sport’s FIA governing body.
The long-term agreement comes after the pair acquired Munich-based WRC Promoter, which has held commercial rights to the WRC since 2013.
