PRESS INFORMATION
 
Bologna, December 6, 2006
 
 
INTERCONTINENTAL RALLY CHALLENGE:  
A NEW RALLY SERIES, A NEW GENERATION!
 
Milestone creation of a new rally series that includes innovations to enhance young audience interest, proximity with the public and large media coverage
 
The 2007 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC), a newly created international series authorised by the FIA, will start in March 2007 and will mark the birth of a new rally generation.  
 
The decision of SRW Events Ltd., the promoter and organiser of this competition, to launch the IRC is emblematic of a new approach to enhancing the value and excitement of the rally sport for TV viewers and will offer manufacturers, drivers and organisers a large-scale project. One of the IRC's main objectives will be to create a strong proximity with the public, a concept that will be developed at all levels of the IRC especially with the innovative TV production.
 
The aim of the IRC is to give famous drivers as well as young rally and amateur drivers new opportunities to compete together in recognized regional and international rallies. For carmakers, the competition also gives the opportunity to participate in an international rally series with cost-effective regulations.  
 
“All the ingredients are there for a opening season made of nine breathtaking events. We are very proud to have such an impressive calendar for 2007 and to see the interest of major international car manufacturers like Fiat and Peugeot” said Jacques Behar, President of SRW Events. "Thanks to the live transmissions, we will bring the viewers a unique dimension, showing the atmosphere of rallies and getting closer to the drivers. All of this will make watching rally on television more exciting and accessible than ever for the TV viewers."
 
SPORTING CHALLENGES & REGULATIONS
 
Two titles "Winner of the 2007 Intercontinental Rally Challenge" will be awarded by SRW at the end of the season to the drivers and to the manufacturers having totalled the highest number of points in the qualifying events.
 
 The IRC is reserved for cars belonging to one of the following categories: Super 2000, Gp N, Gp A 5/6/7.  
 Any driver entering into an IRC event with a car produced by a registered IRC manufacturer will be eligible to score points.  
 For each event in the Challenge, a classification of the IRC eligible drivers will be drawn-up from the general classification as published, and the standard FIA points system will be applied.
 Manufacturer Points will be awarded to the best 2 finishing cars of each registered Manufacturer
 For both drivers and Manufacturer awards, the best 7 results will be taken into account.  
 For the participants, the IRC entry is automatic through each event entry form.
 
PRESTIGIOUS RALLY EVENTS
 
For this new Challenge, the IRC will gather legendary rally events in the same competition with prestigious events. In 2007, the IRC will be contested over nine qualifying events in 3 continents (Africa, Europe and Asia).  
After a successful international test Challenge in 2006 involving 4 qualifying events, the IRC will not only grow in terms of the number of rallies to be contested in 2007, but in its international stature, as the series will visit both Russia and China, two very strategically important emerging markets.
The inaugural 2007 nine-round series will kick off with the gravel surface Safari rally in Kenya and will be followed by 7 European events before reaching the final rally of the season in China.  
 
2007 IRC CALENDAR
 
 Date Rally Country Surface
1 March 9-11  Safari Rally Kenya gravel
2 May 11-12 Rally of Turkey Turkey gravel
3 June 22-23 Ypres Westhoek Rally Belgium asphalt
4 July 13-14 Rally of Russia Russia gravel
5 August 2-4 Rally Vinho da Madeira Portugal asphalt
6 August 24-26 Barum Rally Zlin Czech Republic asphalt
7 September 28-30 Rally Sanremo Italy asphalt
8 October 25-27 Rally du Valais Switzerland asphalt  
9 November 23-25 Rally China China* gravel
*Pending the ASN’s confirmation.
 
1. Safari Rally Kenya: The Safari Rally is one of the most popular rallies ever and was first held in 1953 as the East African Coronation Safari in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, as a celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. It is considered by many to be the world's toughest rally.  
 
2. Rally of Turkey: Based in one of the World's most spectacular cities, Istanbul, this gravel event will have a demanding route and a very large entry.  
 
3. Ypres Westhoek Rally: Based in the centre of the beautiful and historic town of Ypres, this event has a long tradition of a great atmosphere and excellent promotion. The demanding asphalt roads require maximum concentration from the drivers.
 
4. Rally of Russia: Starting and finishing in the centre of the magnificent city of St Petersburg, the Rally of Russia will use special stages around the town of Vyborg. The gravel route will be between St Petersburg and Finland. The rally will be the first major event in Russia that will be part of an international championship and also be a round of the growing Russian national championship.  
 
5. Rally Vinho du Madeira: One of the best known and respected events in the European championship, this event takes place against the beautiful backdrop of the island of Madeira. The mountainous route is lined with flowers and has spectacular views at every turn.
 
6. Barum Rally Zlin: The most famous rally in eastern Europe always has thousands of spectators and a full entry list. The roads of the Czech Republic test the skills of the crews and their powers of concentration.
 
7. Rally Sanremo: One of the most famous names from the World Rally Championship uses the well known mountain roads above the glamorous town of Sanremo.
 
8. Rally du Valais: Switzerland's premier rally through the beautiful mountains of the Valais region. Having a reputation for top quality organisation and hospitality, this event will provide a challenge to the teams.
 
9. Rally of China: The last event in the IRC will take the crews to the second biggest car market in the World and the most populated country on earth. The gravel roads of China will provide a unique experience and be a real team challenge.
 
CAR MANUFACTURERS
 
With several manufacturers having expressed an interest in the new S2000 category with cars from Fiat, Peugeot, VW and Toyota already in existence, the 2007 IRC will benefit from a great entry list, including all the represented manufacturers in the other existing categories (Gp N, Gp A 5/6/7).  
Major car manufacturers like Fiat and Peugeot have confirmed at the Motor Show in Bologna their interest to participate in the IRC.
This is the promise of a thrilling show all year round.
 
AN INNOVATIVE TV PRODUCTION
 
Eurosport, Europe's n°1 channel, will be the official producer of the IRC. Its broadcasters’ expertise will provide the audience with the best coverage of the competition. At each event, Eurosport will work very closely with the national broadcasters in order to benefit from their perfect local knowledge of the rallies.
 
The IRC will provide unprecedented TV coverage of the events including regular live shows, daily highlights and magazines conceived by Eurosport.
 
One of the key assets of the IRC will be founded in the professional and innovative TV production with the aim of bringing the best possible viewing experience to the audience and making the rally events easier for fans as well as for non-experts to follow and understand.  
 
The aim of the innovative TV coverage concept will be:
• To provide live follow-up of the rallies as a real feuilleton
• To bring editorial innovations in order to give viewers the possibility to follow the full-day plan of the drivers and bring them into the heart of the action
• To highlight the great work of the entire technical and mechanical staff
• To show some of the most beautiful places in the world where the IRC cars will evolve, from the plains of Kenya to the Swiss mountains in Valais
 
In addition to the standard production elements, the IRC production equipment will include on-board cameras as well as an helicopter which will be a powerful TV production tool for filming the landscape views as well as allowing viewers to appreciate the driving skills.
 
The production plan will feature a mix of live and delayed action as follows:
Live Programmes
• Series of 15' live programmes from the service park including live interviews with the drivers, the co-drivers and the team managers  
• Day time & prime time broadcasts
• Highlights of the day
• Updated standings, all-day-long results and stakes presentation of the following day
• Dedicated exciting magazines and highlights
 
Highlights
• Comprehensive highlights of the day  
 Aerial views from an helicopter to present the beautiful landscape views
• On-board sequences to illustrate the teamwork between the drivers and the co-drivers
• Video clips to show the atmosphere and ambiance around the events
 
EXTENSIVE TV COVERAGE
 
The Eurosport Group will have extensive worldwide live programming through Eurosport's network reaching over 108 millions homes across 54 countries, as well as Eurosport 2, Eurosport "Asia-Pacific" and Eurosportnews. The series will also get in-depth coverage on the Eurosport's websites (www.eurosport.com).
In total, the Eurosport Group will cover more than 70 hours of the IRC, which equals to 8 hours on average for each event.  
In addition, national broadcasters will also provide coverage of their domestic events.
This will ensure that IRC receives significant exposure in key markets throughout the world.
Eurosport is also the licensing agent for the worldwide media rights (including TV rights).  
 
About SRW Events
SRW Events is a 100% Eurosport owned company in charge of organising sporting events. The company is managed by Jacques Behar, President of SRW Events and Marcello Lotti, General Manager.