ITV and BT Sport agree WRC broadcast deal

The 2015 World Rally Championship season will be shown on ITV4 and BT Sport in a new television deal.

Both networks will broadcast all 13 rounds of the championship, beginning with Rallye Monte Carlo between 22-25 January, in an agreement negotiated by Oliver Ciesla, the managing director of the commercial rights holder for WRC.

Ciesla is delighted to secure deals with both broadcasters for the UK after British drivers Kris Meeke and Elfyn Evans have both risen to prominence over the past couple of seasons.

"It's a huge vote of confidence for our sport that both broadcasters were eager to renew their commitment to WRC for 2015," Ciesla said. "Britain is a hugely important market for WRC and we're delighted that fans will continue to see the excitement and extreme action that the championship offers.

"The WRC has developed new TV programmes during the last two seasons, especially Sunday's live TV Power Stage, and the feedback we have received from both ITV4 and BT Sport have been extremely positive," he added.

ITV4 will broadcast hour-long highlights shows following each round in a prime-time Tuesday evening slot. It will also produce daily programmes from the final round at Wales Rally GB.

BT Sport will broadcast live stages from all 13 rounds, as well as event previews and post-rally highlights shows. Additionally, it will bring WRC fans a variety of programming from the final round in Wales.

BT Sport, who also hold the broadcasting rights for MotoGP, will step up its coverage by screening classic archive programming featuring former British world champions Colin McRae and Richard Burns.