Next year's World Rally Championship will include an all-new feeder series, the six-round WRC Academy, details of which were revealed at today's Catalunya Rally.
The series, run in a partnership between motorsport's governing body, the FIA and the WRC's global promoter, North One Sport, will offer young drivers the chance to compete in equal machinery as it will be a one-make series for the Ford Fiesta R2.
Next year's Pirelli Star Drivers, who will be announced in Salou later this afternoon, will also take part in the WRC Academy.
Pirelli will supply control tires to the Academy, ensuring the Italy company's continued participation in the WRC.
The cost of contesting the WRC Academy and the six WRC-based events is $185,000, but the drivers are aiming for a half-million euro ($700,000) scholarship that will be awarded to the winner.