WRC Promoter outlines 2016 World Rally Championship calendar

The 14-round series starts in Monte Carlo in mid-January and finishes 10 months later in Australia.

Rally GB remains the final European round of the series in late October, while China's first WRC rally since 1999 will be held in the second week of September.

The returning rally still has to satisfy a variety of requirements following the candidate event in Beijing in August.

Both Monte Carlo and France are on the calendar subject to finalising contractual agreements with WRC Promoter and the FIA before November 30.

WRC Promoter managing director Oliver Ciesla said: "It brings an enticing blend of the WRC's heritage, in the form of classic and long-standing events such as Sweden, Argentina and Finland, with a new and exciting challenge on asphalt roads in China."

Taking the WRC back to China will be one of WRC Promoter's biggest challenges yet, but Ciesla is confident in a new partnership formed in the Far East.

"WRC Promoter has signed a multi-year agreement with Letv Sports to promote the event alongside the Federation of Automobile Sports of China," he said.

"Letv today is one of the world's largest acquirers of sports rights and WRC joins a portfolio which also includes Formula 1 and the English Premier League.

"We welcome China back to the series and look forward to working with a successful and highly experienced organisation.

"China is the biggest car market globally and by taking the WRC there, we offer manufacturers the opportunity to showcase their products via a championship focused on production-based vehicles.

"Its return was unanimously supported by our participating manufacturers."

2016 WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP CALENDAR

January 22-24 Monte Carlo
February 12-14 Sweden
March 4-6 Mexico
April 22-24 Argentina
May 20-22 Portugal
June 10-12 Italy
July 1-3 Poland
July 29-31 Finland
August 19-21 Germany
September 9-11 China
Sep 30-Oct 2 France
October 14-16 Spain
October 28-30 Great Britain
November 18-20 Australia