Richards puts weight behind German WRC bid

Although many leading drivers are against expanding the calendar, Richards doesn't believe there is an insurmountable problem as long as the commercial interest in the series justifies a bigger number of events.

"I don't think anyone believes the championship can sustain more than 14 events at the moment, but if you build up the value of the championship, and the commercial interest, it is reasonable to think you could increase it to 16 rounds," he told Motorsport News.

Germany is the leading candidate to join the WRC, but events in Japan and India, or even a return to China could all feature in a future schedule. This year's Deutschland Rally in July is regarded as a dress rehearsal for an inclusion as early as 2002.

Richards is keen to increase the TV appeal of rallying in Germany - the biggest single market in Europe - and sees the asphalt-based event as key to that.

"I personally believe that Germany, if it works well this summer, will be ready for the championship next year," he said.

The organisers of the event have combined elements of the existing Deutschland and Hunsruck rallies in a compact format based around the town of Trier, close to the French border.