Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz has spoken out about
the future of the World Rally Championship, saying the time has come to tap
into the potential of the series.
Red Bull Media House and German firm Sportsman
Media are in the process of acquiring the global media and promotional rights
to the World Rally Championship on a long-term basis. And, for the first time,
Mateschitz has explained some of the reasoning behind Red Bull’s decision to
move beyond driver and team sponsorship and get involved in series promotion.
In an interview in the FIA’s new magazine AUTO,
Mateschitz said: “It’s true that we
believe the potential of the WRC to be bigger than it has
appeared in the
media in recent years. We will try to uncover its potential and tap into it.
Only time will tell how it pans out and how successful our
efforts will be.”
One of the key areas
Mateschitz is keen to develop is the human side of the WRC.
“Big personality
drivers are always important in any motorsport,” he said, “which, of course,
also means
you can cover the various drivers’ profiles in the media and set
priorities
accordingly.”
In contrast to FIA
president Jean Todt, who is keen to revive longer distance rallies with a
greater emphasis on endurance, Mateschitz sees no reason to return to bygone
eras of the WRC.
He said: “I don’t think
it makes sense to relive the past. Rally driving should
definitely not be any
more dangerous than it already is.”
The WRC has been accused
in the past of being fixated on top-line manufacturer support. In the past, the
championship has run with seven main carmakers, but with Ford’s decision to
withdraw its support, only Volkswagen and Citroen remain – and the latter comes
with considerable commercial backing.
It’s the model of
Citroen’s Abu Dhabi backing and M-Sport’s Qatari funding which Mateschitz feels
is more relevant to the WRC now.
“
Of course,” said
Mateschitz, “a broad range of marques is important to the WRC; it doesn’t
really
matter whether they’re works teams or privateer teams backed by works
outfits.
The important thing is that the teams and their drivers should
perform well,
are competitive and put on a good and exciting show.”
Sources in the FIA have
confirmed the agreement between the sport’s governing body and Red Bull Media
House and Sportsman Media has still not been signed.
Willi Heeks Nick Heidfeld Theo Helfrich Mack Hellings Brian Henton
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