Wilson welcomes new ISC deal

The FIA announced the 10-year deal today and Wilson is confident that it will bring revitalised coverage of the WRC.

"I'm very happy that ISC has been awarded this contract," he said. "I feel they are in the right position at this moment to take the championship forward.

"The new technical regulations will really help ISC as a promoter, as well as helping to cut costs for the manufacturers involved.

"They will help bring back the chances of the local superstars in individual countries - the likes of Rui Madeira in Portugal and the way we used to see 'Possum' Bourne in Australia and New Zealand challenging the front-running drivers - all of that is going to raise the sport's profile again.

"Things will start to happen for WRC now. Of course, some things will take time to sort out, but I'm sure we'll see the benefits of this agreement this year."

Wilson says the first priority is the quality of the show for rally fans.

"We need to look quickly at things like the service park and we need to work with the organisers and make the rally a show," he added. "We need more elements than just the rally in the service park, we need to bring the people in. There are a lot of positive things which we can start working on now with ISC.

"I want top see the profile of the sport being raised. We want to see the WRC being reported in daily newspapers around the world again. Once we do that, everything else will follow, the television, everything. We have to think of this deal on a global basis.

"One of the most important things right now, however, is the investment planned in the championship - that gives me so much comfort and piece of mind to have a backer prepared to invest at these difficult times. It demonstrates that the sport of WRC still has a great deal to offer."