The World Rally Championship (WRC) is set to revolutionise its broadcasts by offering fans a rare glimpse into team strategies and behind-the-scenes decision-making, reports SVG Europe. The new ‘Command Centre’ concept, slated to debut at Rallye Monte Carlo from 23-26 January 2025, will introduce a live feed of driver and team communications along with real-time vehicle data, which have previously been kept under wraps.
The innovative approach will see team engineers and strategists gathered in a single room, where they can communicate directly with their drivers and monitor live car data, thanks to a collaboration with Marelli Motorsport, the official FIA data logger provider. “With Command Centre, we want to provide a level of transparency that doesn’t exist in rallying today,” said Florian Ruth, Senior Director of Content and Communication at WRC Promoter. “By sharing live technical information from the cars, we’re opening up a whole new dimension for fans and teams alike.”
This initiative is expected to bridge the gap between what happens on the rally stages and what is broadcast to the world, similar to the behind-the-scenes dynamics seen in Formula One. The new format will grant fans unprecedented access to conversations between drivers and their teams about everything from tyre choices to mid-stage repairs. It’s an effort to capture and share those tense moments when drivers and engineers are making decisions that can make or break a rally.
A NASA-like nerve centre for WRC teams
Ruth describes the setup as akin to NASA’s launch control, with all teams positioned in front of walls of screens and audio panels. This centralised Command Centre will not only allow teams to monitor their own cars but also provide real-time insights into their competitors’ strategies and technical challenges. Such transparency will no doubt add a new layer of drama and intrigue to the sport, as team members and fans alike see the immediate impacts of each decision and mishap.
“Currently, teams have limited access to live data during the rallies. With this concept, every sensor in the car will send signals to the Command Centre, giving teams a real-time view of every detail. In exchange, they will share their communications with us and, by extension, with the fans,” Ruth elaborated.
Breaking down the walls of secrecy
The WRC’s current setup limits the information teams can access, especially when cars switch to ‘road’ mode after finishing a stage. But with Command Centre, Ruth promises that all of this will change: “The new concept will allow us to keep the data and conversations flowing, even in the off-stage moments. It’s about bringing fans closer to the action and the stories that unfold between the stages, which are often the most exciting and tense.”
This move is not without its challenges, however, as the teams have had to be persuaded to expose their inner workings. “It’s no small feat to convince teams to share their secrets. But they see the benefit in having access to this level of live data, and they understand that sharing these stories will help us all grow the sport,” Ruth said.
A new era of storytelling for WRC
WRC has been working on the Command Centre concept for over a year with partners NEP Finland and Riedel, running various tests throughout the 2024 season. The centrepiece of this project is a new network infrastructure that will allow WRC to integrate all of the live data and communications seamlessly into its broadcasts.
“This is more than just a tech story,” Ruth noted. “It’s about the future of how we tell the story of rallying. With Command Centre, we’ll be able to dive deeper into those nail-biting moments when drivers are repairing cars mid-stage or strategising on how to tackle the next segment.”
The Command Centre concept is set to become a staple of WRC broadcasts over the next few years, starting with the 2025 season opener in Monte Carlo. For fans, this marks the beginning of a new era of rally coverage, where the sport’s raw and unpredictable nature will be on full display like never before.
Be prepared for WRC to open its doors wider and reveal the intricate ballet of rally strategising that’s been hidden until now. Come January 2025, WRC fans are in for a treat that will change the way they experience rallying forever.