Rally Saudi Arabia has been scrapped from the 2026 World Rally Championship calendar, leaving Rally Italia Sardegna because the season finale.
The FIA and WRC Promoter have referred to as off November’s Saudi spherical amid ongoing upheaval within the area, with no substitute occasion deliberate. Which means the championship can be determined in Italy fairly than throughout the ultimate two rallies.
The implications are large. As an alternative of 70 factors being obtainable over two rounds, simply 35 stay on the desk in Sardinia.
Elfyn Evans leads a three-way combat by solely 21 factors from Sami Pajari and Oliver Solberg. With every thing now using on one gravel weekend in Alghero, the title battle goes right down to the wire from 1–4 October.
Italy was resulting from be the penultimate spherical. Now it’s the place the 2026 WRC crown can be received — or misplaced.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, stated: “We’ve labored intently with our companions in Saudi Arabia, our Member Membership the Saudi Car and Bike Federation, WRC Promoter and our championship stakeholders in latest months to discover each potential route that will enable Rally Saudi Arabia to happen as deliberate. Nevertheless, ongoing regional developments imply that the WRC aspect of Rally Saudi Arabia is not going to proceed this yr. These are by no means straightforward choices, significantly after the numerous work undertaken by everybody concerned in making ready for the occasion.
Éric Boullier, CEO of WRC Promoter, stated: “This has been a tough resolution, significantly given the numerous work and dedication from our companions in Saudi Arabia to arrange for this yr’s occasion. Nevertheless, the continuing regional developments and the ensuing logistical challenges imply that we have to present certainty and readability for the rest of the 2026 season.
“We tremendously worth our partnership with SAMF, SMC and the Ministry of Sport, and this resolution is under no circumstances a mirrored image of their means or readiness to ship a world-class WRC occasion. Our focus now’s on working intently collectively in direction of the profitable return of Rally Saudi Arabia to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2027.”
