05/09/2007
RallyRACC collaborates in the research of the global socio-economic impact of the WRC

A working group of the FIA, with the help of some of the most important universities of the world, is working on a major research project examining the socio-economical impact of the World Rally Championship. This initiative taking data from scoring rounds in five countries, will be carried out with the support of several sports research centres.

The project will involve five universities covering World Rally Championship events in Finland, Germany, New Zealand, Spain and Ireland. The lead institution in the project is the University of Ulster (Northern Ireland) which will work closely with the University of  Jyväskylä (Finland), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Spain), Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand) and the University of Zweibrücken (Germany). Morrie Chandler, President of the FIA WRC Commission, declared that "The FIA recognises the importance of having well-researched information. The promoter of the events in each of these countries will work closely with its local research partner to provide a worldwide view of the true value of the World Rally Championship. The intention is that, in the following year, this research will be expanded to gain in international impact profile".

Aman Barfull, Director of the Sports Area at the RACC and member of the Vision 2012 Working Group knows how important it is for organisers, but also for sponsors and makes involved in the WRC, to know first-hand and in a professional manner, what the activity they are participating in provides on a socio-economic level to the areas in which it is being staged: "We have been working now for the third consecutive year in this sense at RACC Motor Sport, in order to determine the direct and indirect impact of the RallyRACC on the economy of the area of Tarragona. After the last event (2006) we drew up a report through a consulting company that recorded the opinion of spectators, makes, teams and media on site and contacted the owners of some accommodation facilities, service providers and persons in charge of restaurants and cafeterias in Tarragona". The data gathered by the RACC in the past three years will be of great value for the research carried out by the FIA.

Dr. David Hassan, from the University of Ulster, Sport and Exercise Sciences Research Institute (SESRI) said: "In an expanding sports marketplace it is inevitable that all sports will have to outline their value to sponsors, public bodies and the media." The research, which commenced at the ninth round of the 2007 WRC in Finland, will conclude with the Rally Ireland on November 16. The report from the first phase of the research will be presented to the FIA World Rally Championship Commission in January 2008.