Mohammed Ben Sulayem has explained the thinking behind the tender process for the sale of WRC
Photography by M-Sport
Words by Alasdair Lindsay, Colin Clark & David Evans
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem has explained the thinking behind the tender process for the sale of the commercial rights to the World Rally Championship.
A week on from the FIA’s announcement of the process, the president talked DirtFish through the sale, revealing one of the key reasons behind that decision: a fresh commercial rights agreement running for up to a quarter of a century.
WRC Promoter – a company owned by both Red Bull and German investment firm KW25 – has seven years remaining on its rights agreement. Ben Sulayem acknowledged that such a term would offer limited interest.
“There’s only seven years to go,” Ben Sulayem told DirtFish. “Whatever comes new, needs the FIA to inject [more].
“Can you sell a product for seven years? Impossible. Can you sell a project for 25 years? If we inject another 18, which then adds [up] to 25, then you have a solid product to sell.
“It’s just the numbers. So we don’t need to be emotional here [but] rational in it.”
DirtFish understands that since the tender process was announced, there have been four serious expressions of interest in making a formal tender submission.
Those wishing to take over the commercial rights of the WRC have three months to make their case.
DirtFish understands the formal FIA tender process will conclude at the end of November, with the successful bidder likely to be revealed prior to the upcoming FIA election on Friday, December 12.
Commercial rights for the World Rally Championship are then expected to formally transfer to the winner of the tender on January 1, 2026, DirtFish understands.
Words:Alasdair Lindsay
Tags: FIA, Mohammed ben Sulayem, Rally del Paraguay, Rally del Paraguay 2025, WRC, WRC 2025, WRC Promoter
Publish Date August 28, 2025 DirtFish 
https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2025/08/MVMgDPR8-WRC_PAR_25_J_MCERLEAN_320-780x520.jpg August 28, 2025
Up Next
