The FIA World Rally Championship will be screened on Dave next year, after the UKTV network channel agreed a deal with the ISC to secure the UK broadcast rights.

The agreement, which was brokered by Jane Rogerson, acting head of commissioning for UKTV, is for three-years and will see the championship, which was previously shown on freeview on ITV4, given a Sunday night slot.

The rally coverage will be embedded in a 'bespoke' weekly 60 minute show, ordered by channel head Steve North, and produced by sports entertainment specialist North One Television.

The presenter of the early weekly show will be announced shortly.

"Rallying has a huge following in Britain and has found its natural home on Dave," said Rogerson. "We're looking forward to working with North One, who have made Formula 1 a smash hit, to bring the championships to as wide an audience as possible."

"Dave has had an astonishing launch and bringing this sport to the channel will give our male skewing audience a compelling and entertaining line up of fab content," added Matthew Littleford, controller of UKTV.

"It's brilliant to be working with North One and ISC to bring the show to life."

ISC CEO, Simon Long meanwhile is also happy with the deal: "We are naturally delighted to have secured such a commitment in the UK," he stated. "Dave is very much a channel on the march and its plans to work with us to push WRC into the future were key to our decision to join forces. Dave's demographic and style is perfect for us."

Dave, which bills itself as 'the home of witty banter', and which also screens programmes such as Top Gear, Never Mind The Buzzcocks and QI, was launched back in October.

Coverage of the FIA World Rally Championship on Eurosport in the UK will not be effected and will continue as normal.