How Malcolm Wilson’s FIA calling and swearing sanctions agreement will impact the WRC

It has been quite the week for the FIA and the World Rally Championship and one which could have a lasting impact on both.

Firstly, a resolution was reached between the governing body and the World Rally Drivers Alliance [WoRDA] that has resulted in the return of stage-end interviews following the Safari Rally Kenya silence, now drivers no longer fear penalties for swearing in heat of the moment scenarios.

This was swiftly followed by FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem putting forward one of the WRC’s most high-profile figures in M-Sport-Ford team founder Malcolm Wilson as the candidate to succeed Robert Reid in the role of deputy president for sport.

Reid, WRC stalwart and 2001 co-driver world champion, announced his resignation from the role earlier this month citing a ‘standards breakdown’ within the organisation. 

These two developments come at a critical time for the WRC. The championship is in the midst of trying to reinvent itself and attract new manufacturers to bolster entries through its highly anticipated 2027 regulations, announced last December. And this is all being played out while the WRC Promoter is up for sale and there is uncertainty over Hyundai’s involvement beyond 2025. 

However, news of an agreement between WoRDA and the FIA regarding the application of sanctions for competitors using “inappropriate language” has been received as a positive step by drivers, who feel that this opening of the communication channels with the FIA can lead to further progress.

“It is very positive, some steps from the FIA to find a solution,” Hyundai’s Ott Tanak told Motorsport.com. “We can trust a bit and hopefully for the first step it is quite good and maybe we can improve more in the future. There are many topics which we want to go for, but for now it is a very good step.  

“This is what we actually need and we need communication between all parties. At the end of the day it is our sport, it is not only the FIA’s, we are doing the sport and there are many other people here connected with it giving their lives for us. It is something we all want to do better and hopefully improve.”

Drivers have been striving for improvements around promotion and clarity over the championship’s future pathway for some time now. Ben Sulayem reiterated his wish to “fix” the WRC at the 2025 Monte Carlo opener in January and remains confident the process is well underway.

News that Wilson could take up the deputy position at the FIA, subject to a vote at the extraordinary general assemblies and conference in Macau in June, has also been met with positivity by WRC drivers, who feel his influence could help improve the series.

M-Sport founder and former British rally champion, Wilson, is regarded highly by those in the WRC service park and has previously worked with Ben Sulayem, who competed in M-Sport-built machinery during his own rallying career. 

“I don’t think you’ll find anyone with the level of experience that Malcolm clearly has as a driver and team owner and in the commercial and business side of it. He has got a wealth of experience and if it goes ahead then I wish him all the best,” former M-Sport driver and current WRC points leader Elfyn Evans told Motorsport.com.

“I think it is clear, actually there are going to be some difficult decisions and some immediate decisions that need to be made. I would say they would be right up Malcolm’s street to be fair and I think that would be one of his strengths.”

Elfyn Evans, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

Photo by: Toyota Racing

Tanak, another former M-Sport driver, added: “I think we know that rallying is in a difficult spot with all the stories about things going on. 

“Definitely some light at the end of the tunnel would help that a lot in the technical side and the promotional side. There are many things we should have improved a lot already a long time ago. I guess somebody as direct and as strong as him [Malcolm] maybe could help that. But I don’t know if it is going to happen.”

Wilson admitted to being “very surprised” by the nomination and while he is aware the role is focused on all motorsport, he harbours a passion to help improve rallying. It is this passion that has driven him to accept the nomination despite the FIA enduring a turbulent period.   

“I’m honoured to be nominated and it is not something that I ever anticipated,” Wilson told Motorsport.com.

“I have worked with Mohammed a lot and I know he wants to see rallying be a success, and there is nothing more I want as it has been my life, and if I can find a way to help, then that would be great.

“It [the FIA role] is a very difficult job, there is no question but as I said it [motorsport] has been my life and I have so much passion for this great sport, and I want to see rallying back to where it was.

“If you look at the hardcore fans they are still there and that still gives me some encouragement, but we need to take the next step and somehow get it back to how it was.”