Confirmed
WRC secures landmark commercial rights deal
Cosmobilis and Park Square Capital acquire WRC Promoter GmbH, signaling significant investment and a new era for rally sport.
WRC Commercial Rights Acquired
A landmark commercial rights agreement for the World Rally Championship has been finalised, bringing new investment and leadership to the sport. French automotive group Cosmobilis, alongside private credit investor Park Square Capital, has officially acquired WRC Promoter GmbH, which controls the commercial rights for both the WRC and the European Rally Championship. This undisclosed long-term agreement is believed to extend for approximately 25 years. The deal signals a pivotal moment for the WRC, especially as it prepares for new technical regulations in 2027.
New Leadership and Investment
Former Formula 1 team principal Eric Boullier, who previously led Lotus and McLaren, has been appointed as the new CEO of WRC Promoter. The FIA has described this acquisition as the “biggest deal in history” for rallying, anticipating substantial new investment into the sport. This capital injection is expected to bolster and expand the WRC's global motorsport portfolio for many years to come. A comprehensive new vision for the championship, including strategies for its future direction, is slated for unveiling at Rally Paraguay later in August 2026.
Driver Optimism and Future Prospects
The completion of this deal is widely regarded as a crucial step for the WRC to advance its new era. Drivers within the service park have expressed considerable positivity about this development, which has been a topic of frequent discussion for several years. The finalisation of the 2027 calendar and sporting regulations is anticipated to follow soon, now that a new commercial rights holder is in place. Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville, despite his own contract status remaining unresolved, voiced his hope that the new promoter will engage directly with the drivers.
Neuville stated, “Obviously we've been waiting for that announcement for a long time. I hope we can work hand in hand, teams, drivers and promoters to bring the championship back where it belongs. And I think that we drivers can be a good help as well because we are the main characters in that championship, and we are the ones who know best what the championship means.” Nine-time world champion Sébastien Ogier echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the broader benefits for the sport. “Personally, again, my future in the sport is probably not really long anymore,” Ogier commented, “But still, for the sport in general, I think it's great news to have some fresh blood and some people who seem to have a motivation.” This deal arrives strategically before a significant rules overhaul scheduled for WRC 2027. Currently, Kalle Rovanperä is not listed among the WRC points leaders, with Elfyn Evans leading the championship on 201 points, followed by Sami Pajari with 171 points, reflecting a strong Finnish presence at the top tiers of the sport despite not being directly involved in this commercial transaction.
Status And Sources
This story is labelled Confirmed, which means the people involved have said this on the record. The rules behind those labels are in the editorial policy, and the desk that published it is Sanni Koskela.
Written from the following reporting. Each link goes to the newsroom's own page, not to an aggregator:
- Autosportautosport.com
- Motorsport.commotorsport.com
