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DUBAI: The FIA has announced that it will have a tender process for the commercial rights of the FIA World Rally Championship, which ends this season in ������Ƶ.

This follows extensive discussions by the FIA, the global governing body for motorsport and the federation for mobility organizations worldwide, with Red Bull and KW25, the current rights holders.

The FIA World Rally Championship has surged in popularity in recent years, with a cumulative television audience of 1.3 billion, and over 4 million on-site visitors in 2024.

The next round of the championship is on Aug. 28 at the Rally del Paraguay, which is making its debut as a host country this year.  The WRC Rally ������Ƶ, another debut event, rounds of the championship in Jeddah from Nov. 26 to 29.

Mohammed Ben Sulayem, the FIA’s president, said in a statement: “The FIA World Rally Championship is at an exciting moment in its history. Millions of fans around the world are following the action, and new, younger audiences are driving its global growth.”

He added: “This process is an important step and will shape the long-term vision for the WRC, and I am confident that, together with the right partner, we can take the championship to the next level, preserve its proud heritage, and grow its global reach for generations of fans to come.”

In the statement, the FIA said its priority is to ensure that the WRC delivers value to all its stakeholders, including drivers, teams, manufacturers, organizers and fans, while also preserving its strong heritage.

J.P. Morgan, the global financial services company, will be acting as advisor to Red Bull and KW25 through the tender process.

Malcolm Wilson, the FIA’s deputy president for sport, said: “The FIA World Rally Championship is the longest-running motorsport series of its kind, one of the most thrilling competitions in the world, with a unique heritage and an exciting growth trajectory ahead.

“The tender process for the commercial rights holder is a big opportunity for a new enterprise to take the Championship into its next chapter with renewed energy and investment.”

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario: Getting her first career win has not stopped Japan’s Akie Iwai from going for another, at least judging by her opening round at the CPKC Women’s Open in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Fresh off a victory at the Standard Portland Classic last week, Iwai clearly wasn’t bothered by distractions as she raced to a 7-under-par 64 Thursday at Mississaugua Golf and Country Club, giving her a two-stroke advantage over the rest of the field.

The 23-year-old Iwai sank birdies on her first two holes of the tournament, played on the back nine. She followed up with birdies on Nos. 18, 4, 6, 8 and 9 to provide herself a reasonable margin for error going into Friday.

“So last week I won, but already it’s in the past, already past,” Iwai said. “That’s why I was change the mind (for) good focus this week.”

The rookie shot out of the gate earlier this year, grabbing second-place finishes at Honda LPGA Thailand in February and the JM Eagle LA Championship in April.

Five golfers are tied for second at 5 under, including Megan Khang, who is back at the old stomping grounds in Canada, where she won her first LPGA title in 2023.

Khang shook off a bogey on the par-3 third to record six birdies, including back-to-back on the 12th and 13th.

“It’s always nerve-wracking coming back to a tournament you have won. Obviously, you would like to do it again,” Khang said. “It’s definitely a little cool coming in and still seeing some spots where my face is. Still catches me off guard.”

Fifteen-year-old phenom Aphrodite Deng, a Canadian national, is also sitting at 5 under.

The amateur closed her round with back-to-back birdies on Nos. 17 and 18 and pointed to her short game as being the reason for her strong start.

“Today my putting was really good,” she said.

World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand, looking for her second win of the season, recorded four birdies across Nos. 1-6 to put herself in contention.

She acknowledged that playing in first tournament as No. 1 was on her mind.

“I’m not going to lie saying I’m not thinking about that,” Thitikul said. “But like to be honest, I just told myself like, you can think about it. You can be worry. You can be nerves. But like at the end of the day, you got to pass this as well.”

She, Khang and Deng are joined by Ireland’s Leona Maguire and Mexico’s Gaby Lopez in the tie for second.

Alone in seventh place is South Korea’s Soo Bin Joo (67). Five golfers are a stroke behind her in a tie for eighth at 3 under: South Korea’s Jeongeun Lee5, Taiwan’s Peiyun Chien, Thailand’s Ariya Jutanugarn, Japan’s Mao Saigo and Jenny Bae.

World No. 2 Nelly Korda is 2 under (T13), and 2024 winner Lauren Coughlin in a tie for 109th at 3 over.