[3][4] In early 2012, the FIA annulled the contract in place with WRC's promotor North One Sports following its owners collapse into administration.

[5] After a tender process, the FIA World Motor Sport Council approved a new promotor in September of that year, a collaboration between Sportsman Media and Red Bull, with responsibility for all commercial matters of the championship, with power to assist in forming the calendar and proposing new rallies, and suggesting altering of rules and regulations and structure of the championships.

[6][7][8] At the same September WMSC meeting, the FIA announced changes to the WRC's support championships in order "to reflect the interests and demands of the competitors", with WRC2 and WRC3 replacing SWRC and PWRC.

[15] Changes to the structure of the WRC support championships were made by the FIA ahead of the 2019 season, coinciding with approval and implementation of a new rally pyramid that emphasised tiers of corresponding numbers of classes, cars and competitions.

[18] WRC 2 Pro was introduced in 2019 as a means of encouraging manufacturer entries to join the category and in response to complaints that privateers could not compete with the resources of the factory teams.

Competing in cars built to R5 specifications, manufacturer teams were permitted to enter up to two crews per event.

[20] The WRC 2 Pro series was abandoned after only one year following criticism that the structure was too difficult to understand.

Of the three 2019 entrants, M-Sport Ford and Citroën had free entry courtesy of being in the WRC Manufacturer's championship.

[citation needed] Škoda, the only paying entrant and victor, withdrew from entering WRC from 2020, instead supporting Toksport entries.

[22][23] However this method of thinking would place the winner of four WRC 2 Teams Championships from 2015 to 2018, the manufacturer Škoda, in the privateer continuation.

Teams, drivers and co-drivers need to indicate on the entry form for each rally if they intend to nominate it as one of their scoring rounds.