BT Sport extends FIA World Rally Championship deal for three more years

BT Sport has today announced that it has secured the exclusive live rights to show the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) for the 2016, 2017 and 2018 seasons after extending its current deal.

The network will broadcast comprehensive live coverage from all 14 rounds of the championship season for the next three years. On top of its exclusive live coverage, BT Sport will also give fans greater access to the championship by broadcasting magazine shows, daily and event highlight programmes and live power stages.

Head of BT Sport, Simon Green said: “It is fantastic that we have been able to extend this relationship with the WRC and provide motorsport fans extensive coverage for the next three years. The excitement and extreme action that the championship offers, plus the access to teams and drivers behind the scenes, has made our WRC coverage extremely popular in our growing motorsport coverage.”

He added: “With Northern Ireland’s Kris Meeke and Welshman Elfyn Evans flying the flag in recent seasons, it’s fantastic that fans can continue to track their fortunes, plus those of all the top teams and drivers on BT Sport for the next three years.”

Oliver Ciesla, managing director of commercial rights-holder WRC Promoter: “We’re delighted to announce that BT Sport will continue to broadcast the WRC live in the UK after two very successful years already. The coverage they have provided for fans over recent years has been outstanding and we can’t wait to see the innovations they will bring in the next three years.”

BT Sport will supplement its coverage by screening classic archive programming featuring former British world champions Colin McRae and Richard Burns, in addition to extensive online coverage at www.btsport.com.

The 2016 season began this weekend with the Rallye Monte-Carlo and culminates with Rally Australia in November (18 – 20).

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Notes to Editors

FIA World Rally Championship 2016 Calendar

Monte-Carlo22 - 24 January

Sweden12 - 14 February

Mexico4 - 6 March

Argentina22 - 24 April

Portugal20 - 22 May

Italy10 - 12 June

Poland1 - 3 July

Finland29 - 31 July

Germany19 - 21 August

China9 - 11 September

France30 September - 2 October

Spain14 - 16 October

Great Britain28 - 30 October

Australia18 - 20 November