The manufacturers involved in the World Rally Championship have called on the series promoter to crank up its efforts to launch live coverage on the internet.
Live internet coverage of the WRC was one of North One Sport’s stated aims three years ago, but the London-based firm has yet to deliver – and Ford and Citroen are becoming increasingly restless over the lack of web-based coverage.
“There’s a great opportunity for North One Sport to be at the leading edge of technology in bringing rallying to the people through internet television,” said Ford’s Gerard Quinn.
“It’s great that we are seeing stages in the cities in places like Lisbon and Guanajuato, but we need to focus on the internet television, that’s the future and there’s a mass appeal for this. The sport has to go this way soon, the people are waiting for this.”
Citroen’s team principal Olivier Quesnel added: “We hear the talk about this, but there is nothing to see. It is very important, but there are many things which are important for the future of the sport.”
North One Sport took over as the promoter of the WRC at the start of last season and was, last month, taken over by Convers Sports Initiatives.