Paris meeting sets 'long-terms goals' for WRC.

Interim WRC president, Morrie Chandler has revealed that a 'number of proposals' were agreed on Friday when the World Rally Championship Commission meet in Paris to discuss the future shape and format of the series.

Chandler, who is also the chairman of the Rally New Zealand, added that these will now be presented to the World Motor Sport Council in July for their approval.

"The WRC Commission has agreed on a number of proposals, including setting long-term goals for the future of the Championship," he confirmed. "The proposals, which have very broad support, will help to maintain the stability, cost effectiveness and increased value of the Championship."

Chandler also noted that plans to run to start running the schedule over two calendar years would go ahead in 2007.

"The WMSC will take the final decision on this matter but we reaffirmed the earlier proposal that the 2007 Championship should run from January to May 2007 and that the 2008 WRC should commence in August 2007 and conclude in May 2008," he continued. "A number of ideas were put forward during the meeting and all of the marketing, promotional, financial and logistical considerations were taken into account. Proposals for the calendars for 2007 and 2007/08 will be finalised by the WRC Commission when it reconvenes in June."

As for all the candidate events currently vying for a place in the WRC, including Ireland, Portugal and Norway, he explained that more would be known on this front once all six events had been held.

"The level of interest in potential Championship participation is very positive. Of the six candidate events only three have run to date. We have received dossiers on each event and they will all be assessed in the same manner as the current rallies and our recommendations presented to the World Motor Sport Council. This is another reason we have to meet again in June, when all six candidates will have run," he said. "We have agreed a process for managing applications based on set criteria, which will be used as a basis for the management of candidate events."

Chandler meanwhile, who has replaced Shekhar Mehta at the head of the WRC Commission, following his sad passing in early April will continue as the acting president of the WRC Commission in the short-term - although he won't be seeking to hold the position permanently.