As well as putting pressure on Toro Rosso in his interview with FIA’s AUTO publication, Red Bull boss Dietrich Mateschitz said the WRC must make the most of the sport’s potential, believing also that the profile of its drivers need to improve.
“It’s true that we believe the potential of the WRC to be bigger than it has appeared in the media in recent years,” said Mateschitz. “We will try to uncover its potential and tap into it. Only time will tell how it pans out and how successful our efforts will be.
“Big personality drivers are always important in any motorsport,which, of course, also means you can cover the various drivers’ profiles in the media and set priorities accordingly.”
Mateschitz is not concerned with the lack of top-line support from manufacturers in the WRC, which now sees only Citroën and Volkswagen running official factory teams. “Of course, a broad range of marques is important to the WRC; it doesn’t really matter whether they’re works teams or privateer teams backed by works outfits. The important thing is that the teams and their drivers should perform well, are competitive and put on a good and exciting show.â€
Despite earlier reports that Red Bull Media House, along with German firm Sportsman Media, had secured the role as official promoter of the WRC, it’s now understood that a contract is yet to be signed.
The most recent word from the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council said they “approved for the FIA to proceed with an agreement with The Sportsman Media Group and Red Bull Media House to become the new global Promoter of the FIA World Rally Championship from 2013.”
No rush, there’s still a whole 40 days until Rallye Monte Carlo kicks off.
[Source: Yahoo Eurosport UK]