WRC holds 2017 tech rules talks

The FIA is meeting with the World Rally Championship promoter in Geneva today to lay the foundations for the next generation of WRC cars in 2017.

WRC Commission president Carlos Barbosa confirmed that the FIA has already sought opinion on the way forward for the cars competing at rallying's highest level, but today marks the first formal part of the policy-making process. With Toyota waiting on those 2017 regulations – and the current teams also looking for an early direction – Barbosa says it is imperative to get news of the new rules out as soon as possible.

"The 2017 season is very near," he said. "We must decide very quickly what is going to be the car, all of the current teams need to know and we have to give teams looking at coming into the WRC time to make their cars."

Following this meeting, the sport's governing body and promoter will then meet with the FIA's own technical department and the manufacturers.