Motorsport: Ogier joins debate about new WRC events

Sebastien Ogier during the WRC Germany. Photo / Getty Images

Three time world champion and current series leader Sebastien Ogier has called for new events to be included on the World Rally Championship calendar.

The Volkswagen works driver has joined the debate about what the calendar of world rallying should look like as the sport continues its renaissance.

Countries like Brazil, Abu Dhabi, Russia, India and Canada have shown interest and would have varying degrees of appeal for teams and promoters. Other nations like Japan and New Zealand, who have a rich history in the sport, are seen as safer bets to be included on future calendars.

There is a huge skew towards Europe with 10 of the 14 stops on this year's calendar staged in Europe and the FIA is keen to address that situation. Rally China had been scheduled to return this year but was canceled due to flooding and reports of financial mismanagement meaning the championship will leave Europe just three times this year.

"I think we should have some new events, but also I think it is important to keep some history in the championship and include some historical events," Ogier told RallySport Magazine.

"(It's) always difficult to say which events are the most important to keep, but some often mentioned events are Monte Carlo, Sweden, Great Britain, Finland, Portugal, maybe I forgot some. Events with a lot of history.

"It is always a compromise to select the ones you keep between the new ones."

The 2017 calendar is expected to be confirmed by the end of November.

Ogier leads the World Championship by 59 points with the next event in his native France.