- EQT Partners has been linked to UK£500m takeover
- Red Bull and KW 25 have run WRC since 2013
The International Automobile Federation (FIA) has announced a tender process will be run for a new promoter of the World Rally Championship (WRC).
It has been known for some time that WRC has been exploring a sale, with reports emerging in August 2024 that linked current promoters Austrian energy drinks giant Red Bull and German investment company KW 25 to a sale worth up to €500 million (US$550 million).
Red Bull and KW 25 currently operate the championship through the company WRC Promoter, which became the promoter of WRC in 2013.
In June, private equity firm EQT Partners was linked to a UK£500 million (US$676 million) takeover bid. JPMorgan Chase & Co has been working with WRC since last year to facilitate a sale.
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“The FIA World Rally Championship is at an exciting moment in its history,” said Mohammed Ben Sulayem, president of the FIA. “Millions of fans around the world are following the action, and new, younger audiences are driving its global growth. This championship has enormous potential, and it is our responsibility as governing body to ensure it continues to grow and reaches new heights.
“This process is an important step and will shape the long-term vision for the WRC, and I am confident that, together with the right partner, we can take the championship to the next level, preserve its proud heritage, and grow its global reach for generations of fans to come.”
The FIA will now work with Red Bull and KW 25 to secure long-term investment in the future of WRC at a time where it has largely reached capacity on its schedule.
A big priority will be establishing a rally in the US, following the failed plans for 2026. This move will significantly enhance the global footprint of the championship.
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