New WRC commission president announced.

The FIA, the governing body for the World Rally Championship, has announced that Shekhar Mehta will be the new 'acting' president for the WRC.

A brief statement posted on the FIA's website, following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council in Paris on Wednesday read:

"Shekhar Mehta was appointed acting chairman for the World Rally Championship Commission [today] pending the appointment of a new permanent incumbent."

Mehta replaces Jacques Regis, who announced his decision to step down at the end of January.

In another development meanwhile the WMSC confirmed that those teams entered in the Manufacturer 2 category - namely OMV Peugeot, Stobart VK and Red Bull - have five weeks prior to the start of an event to name their drivers, if they wish to have them nominated to score manufacturers' points.

"As part of the specific conditions for the participation of a Manufacturer 2," explained the FIA, "that manufacturer must inform the FIA of the names of the two drivers nominated for the purpose of scoring points no later than five weeks prior to the start of the rally concerned."