The Rallye de France will not take place in Alsace

The saga of the organization of Rally of France WRC took a new turn today. After the numerous defections of different local authorities in Alsace, which has organized the French event of the WRC calendar since 2010, the Fédération Française du Sport Automobile, following the meeting of the Executive Bureau yesterday in Paris, officially announced that she turned towards « an alternative solution allowing the organization of the Rallye de France in 2015."

"The Executive Office of the FFSA would like to point out that the organization of a World Championship Rally requires three prerequisites: the financial participation of territorial stakeholders, the support of private partners and a triple sporting, popular and promotional dimension, linked to the hosting of such an event on French territory. The Executive Office notes that the first condition is no longer satisfied today by the Alsatian communities, despite the significant economic benefits for the Alsatian territory and the popular success of the event, and regrets that the World Championship will not can no longer take place in Alsace, given the exceptional adventure represented by the organization of the France-Alsace Rally since 2010, marked by the sporting coronations of French champions Sébastien Loeb et Sébastien Ogier." The ordeal generated nearly 20 million of economic benefits on average each year and almost 400 000 visitors with each edition.

As we explain to you in issue 1995 of AUTOhebdo, available in digital version and on newsstands, the Tour de Corsica should take over, but the future of the tricolor event still remains pending the vote of the assembly of the Territorial Collectivity of the Isle of Beauty which is to be held in February.