News

Heading towards new horizons

28.05.2016

Created in 1960, the Rallye International du Valais (RIV) has been part of the European Rally Championship (ERC) in its successive forms since 1980. It has also be a round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) in 2007 and 2008, before it became an iconic event within the European Championship, which is deemed to be the antechamber of the World Championship (WRC).

Following talks at the highest level, it has sadly become clear that it was not possible to earn access to the pinnacle of road competitions for the moment because there are too many rallies on the European continent. Furthermore, the Rallye International du Valais has not taken the positive benefits it was entitled to expect out of the European Rally Championship promotion as it is currently operated. After having made an assessment, the decision was made to withdraw the RIV from the abovementioned series.

 

The commitment to innovation and to preserving the outstanding nature of the RIV has led to offer a new challenge to all those who acknowledge its qualities year after year for both its organisation, its route, its sceneries, its special atmosphere and the warmth of the welcome in the region. In addition to being part of the Swiss Rally Championship, as usual, the FIA European Rally Trophy (ERT) and the FIA R-GT Cup, the Rallye International du Valais joins the Tour European Rally (TER) this year. The event will draw this newly created series - which consists in four rounds, the first three being held in Romania, Madeira (Portugal) and Austria - to its conclusion.

 

Christian Dubuis, the organiser of the Rallye International du Valais, said: “I have been seduced by this new concept that will allow us to get more significant benefits at international levels, in particular in terms of TV coverage and tourism promotion, while freeing ourselves from the subjection to financial requirements, which generate a return that does not match the investment at all.”