LE MANS — FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem announced that the new commercial rights holder for the World Rally Championship (WRC) will be named within three weeks. Ben Sulayem made this statement during a media roundtable at the Le Mans 24 Hours.

The FIA initiated a tender process in August 2025 to select a new commercial rights holder for the championship. WRC Promoter, a company owned by Red Bull and German investment company KW25, previously held these rights.

Ben Sulayem indicated that the new commercial rights contract could extend for up to 25 years. He also stated that funds generated from the sale of these commercial rights would be reinvested into the championship by the FIA.

The FIA president addressed the financial aspects of WRC participation under new regulations and with a new promoter. He stated that the cost to run three cars in the WRC is projected to decrease from over 70 million to approximately 25-30 million.

Regarding manufacturer involvement, Ben Sulayem said he aims for a minimum of five manufacturers to compete in the WRC. Currently, Toyota is the only automotive brand confirmed to compete next year. The 2027 WRC cars are priced at €350,000, are lighter, and use sustainable fuel, according to reports. Tuners Project RallyOne and RMC Motorsport have announced plans to construct and develop cars built to these new 2027 technical regulations. Cosmobilis, a French automotive company led by Eric Boullier, is reported as a leading candidate for the WRC commercial rights.