Rally GB future to be discussed

Following tomorrow's discussion, the calendar will then be put forward to the FIA World Motor Sport Council meeting next month, when it's hoped it will be rubber-stamped as one of the earliest approved calendars ever.

The Rally GB's long-standing place on the calendar remains in doubt after North One Sport CEO Simon Long made it clear during last year's Rally GB, that the event needed a clearly defined future strategy: "We want events with a firm structure and plan for the future. We fully understand the importance of Rally GB, but at the same time we need to see where the event is going in the future."

Rally GB's current absence of a host city beyond 2011 that currently precludes the event organsiers making any long-term plans.

Rally GB's agreement with the Welsh Assembly Government will end following this November's event and while the rally's chief executive Andrew Coe is in negotiations with Wales, he admitted he has nothing confirmed ahead of tomorrow's Commission meeting.

Despite that, Coe said he remained confident Rally GB would feature on what's expected to be a 13-round schedule.

"We are confident we will have agreement in place very soon," said Coe. "We are talking to a number of regions, one of which is Wales - there's plenty of interest in this event. Right at this moment, there's not an agreement for 2012 looking forward.

"Obviously, we're very much hoping Rally GB appears on the calendar which will go to the FIA's World Motor Sport Council Meeting. And we're confident it will be, there's no reason why it shouldn't be: Rally GB is a fundamental cornerstone of the WRC. Rally GB has been in the WRC since its inception in 1973 and running as a rally since 1932 and while the series needs fresh new events it also needs the iconic classics - of which Rally GB is undoubtedly one."

Asked to comment on Rally GB's position on Tuesday, Long said: "I'm not in a position to discuss any events on the calendar, all I can confirm is that we will be proposing the calendar to the WRC Commission."

Coe added that, even if GB's not on the calendar tomorrow the schedule still had to be discussed at WMSC.

"It's not a final decision [at tomorrow's WRC Commission meeting]," said Coe. "It's more of a work in progress at the Wednesday meeting. For want of a better phrase, there's a degree of horse trading to be done, what comes out of this week isn't a done deal."