Italian publisher Black Bean has captured the rights to the hair-raising World Rally Championship and has announced its intention to resurrect the franchise some time in 2010.

Milestone, the studio behind racing hits such as SBK Superbike and MotoGP, is currently handling development of a title for Xbox 360, PS3 and PC.

“We are particularly proud to bring the WRC franchise back into the videogames arena after so many years of absence,” Black Bean president Virgilio Bixio stated.

“Milestone has been working hard on this title and our expectations are really high. We will be able to provide the utmost competitive title that will provide extremely positive results. Furthermore, Milestone’s work is enriched by the overwhelming support we have received from the WRC community.”

To date Sony is the only publisher to have released dedicated WRC titles, though a handful of other games have incorporated aspects of the licence into their design.

Fans of WRC may also be interested in picking up Sony’s Gran Turismo 5 when that finally emerges, as Polyphony Digital’s latest is also set to carry the WRC licence – as well as the NASCR licence.