President of the group shaping the future of WRC
Earlier this year, Pernilla was approached by Anna Nordkvist, the Secretary General of the Swedish Motorsports Federation and Vice President of FIA, regarding a potential role within FIA. Naturally, she was interested, particularly if it involved rally or rallycross, her areas of expertise.
FIA immediately saw her potential and wanted her as the Chairperson, President of the World Rally Championship Commission, the body responsible for shaping the WRC, the World Rally Championship. She eagerly accepted the position. The work has already started in full swing, given the current flurry of activities.
“It’s incredibly honourable and exciting to get this opportunity. Previously, I was involved in the technical group for rallycross and served as the teams’ representative in the cross-country commission for rallycross. Now, it will be exciting to take on the future of the WRC, which is, of course, close to my heart,” says Pernilla.
Since assuming her position on April 1 this year, they have already held two meetings. Pernilla has also initiated two new working groups to complement the existing technical group. One new group focuses on PR issues around the sport, and the other on the sport itself, aiming to develop the competition. These groups include invited representatives from teams, manufacturers, and active participants.
Experiencing competitions from the other side
Pernilla has extensive experience as a driver and team leader and has mostly seen the competitions from the active participants’ side. When her son Oliver skipped the WRC rally in Croatia, she chose to go there herself to learn more about the event. She followed the safety cars to see how they ensured the spectators were in safe positions and how overall safety was maintained. She met with WRC stewards and race officials to see how they handled protests or made judgments regarding potential penalties. This and much more gave her some eye-opening insights.
“After being active for so long in various roles, I’m still surprised by all the work that goes into making a World Championship rally happen. It was incredibly rewarding and beneficial for my role in FIA and the work to develop the competitions for the future,” says Pernilla.
New regulations for 2025?
In recent years, discussions about car regulations have been active, a task that falls under the WRC Commission’s purview. The next meeting is scheduled for June 11, where they hope to agree on a proposal for how the regulations should look as early as next year.
“The goal is to broaden the top and attract more manufacturers and teams to invest in WRC. We probably won’t get all the way this year, but we hope to take one or two steps in that direction,” concludes Pernilla.
