FIA terminate deal with WRC promoter North One

The FIA have terminated their contract with North One Sport, the commercial rights holders of the World Rally Championship (WRC).

As reported on tellysports last week, Convers Sports Initiatives, the parent company of North One went in to administration in November. Nobody made an offer to purchase the company and carry on the promotion of the WRC despite seven ‘expressions of interest’, so on Friday the FIA found North One to be in ‘breach of contract’ and ended the deal.

The FIA are now in an awkward situation with a week to go until the start of the 2012 season. The promoter/commercial rights holder are responsible for the day-to-day running of the championship, as well as timing and tracking, sponsorship servicing, and importantly-television production and rights distribution.

This means ESPN and Motors TV’s contracts to show the WRC in the UK are now void, and barring a late deal with the new rights holders will not be televising the series in 2012.

Eurosport Events, who currently promote the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) and Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) are expected to take over the role, but even then they face a race against time in order to have everything in place ahead of the Rallye Monte Carlo that starts on the 17th January. However, with Eurosport available across most of Europe, as well as many countries in the Asia-Pacific region, that at least solves some of the issues of distributing television rights around the world.

With Monte Carlo being part of the IRC since 2009 before reverting back to the WRC in 2012, Eurosport Events have covered this event in recent years, so will have some knowledge of how best to televise the rally at short notice.

Of course, they haven’t officially been confirmed as promoters, and somebody else may still get the role. Presumably the FIA will announce the news officially when everything is in place for the first round of the season.