2019 World Rally Championship Launching at U.K.’s Autosport Int’l

By Team Speed - November 14, 2018

All competing WRC teams & drivers will be back in action on Jan. 12 at Autosport Int’l, happening Jan. 10-13 in Birmingham.

The U.K.’s Autosport International will launch the 2019 FIA World Rally Championship at Birmingham, England’s National Exhibition Center on January 12. At what is being billed “WRC Super Saturday,” all of the drivers and team principals will be in one place and on hand to talk about the 2018 championship and share their opinions before the season-opener in Monte Carlo.

M-Sport World Rally Team, Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team, Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team, and Citroën Total Abu Dhabi World Rally Team will all unveil their 2019 rally cars on Saturday morning, Jan. 12, in front of show visitors. Dayinsure Wales Rally GB will also form a significant part of the rally celebrations at the show, with cars and drivers from both the world and British Rally Championships present. The WRC will also present drivers from WRC 2 and Junior World Rally Championship at the show.

“I am delighted to see the FIA World Rally Championship coming back to Autosport International in January,” said Autosport Editor Kevin Turner. “The response we got from this year’s launch was exceptionals. Next year we’re going to make it bigger and better. Moving the launch to Saturday is fantastic news for the thousands of fans out there who want the chance to come and meet their heroes, and to see the cars in their 2019 liveries for the first time.

“This has been a fascinating season, not just in terms of the competition on the stages but in the recent driver market movement, continues Turner. “Want to see Sebastien Ogier wearing a 2019 Citroën shirt for the first time? Or Kris Meeke’s new Toyota colors? Then you need to be in Birmingham in January!”

“Ahead of what is lining up to be another exceptionally competitive year, there is no better way to launch next year’s FIA World Rally Championship than at the show, which kicks off the start of the new motorsport season,” adds Oliver Ciesla, WRC Promoter Managing Director. “With all of the 2019 cars, drivers, and team principals at the show, fans will get their WRC fix ahead of the season opening Rallye Monte-Carlo.”