The FIA has scrapped Rally Saudi Arabia because the closing spherical of this yr’s World Rally Championship, a call that lands two months forward of System 1‘s personal season-ending swing by way of the Gulf and can doubtless sharpen scrutiny of F1’s plans to maintain racing there in December.
The FIA and WRC Promoter confirmed that the occasion, initially set for November 12-15, is not going to go forward as a WRC spherical in 2026.
The governing physique mentioned it had labored “extensively” with the Saudi Vehicle and Motorbike Federation, the native organisers and championship stakeholders to attempt to preserve the occasion on the calendar, however in the end cited “ongoing uncertainty within the area and its impact on logistical preparations” as the rationale the WRC leg couldn’t proceed.
The rally itself hasn’t been cancelled outright — it is going to nonetheless run on the identical dates, however folded into the FIA Center East Rally Championship as an alternative. Saudi Arabia pushed again on any suggestion the decision mirrored circumstances on the bottom, stressing it “remained able to host the occasion safely and efficiently” and that the nation “continues to function usually with nationwide programs absolutely practical.”
With the spherical dropped, the WRC season now finishes at Rally Sardinia (October 1-4), which turns into the thirteenth and ultimate spherical of the yr — a reshuffling that leaves the world championship wrapped up two months earlier than F1 even arrives within the area for its Qatar and Abu Dhabi season finale on November 29 and December 6.
FIA President addresses choice
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem addressed the choice instantly, saying the federation had explored each possibility with its Saudi and WRC companions to maintain the occasion working as deliberate, however that regional developments meant the WRC ingredient couldn’t go forward this yr — whereas stressing the federation’s confidence within the organisers and within the rally’s longer-term future within the Kingdom stays unchanged
. He confirmed the standalone Center East Rally Championship occasion will nonetheless run in November with FIA help, and mentioned the precedence now could be working with Saudi companions and WRC Promoter towards bringing the world championship again to the nation in 2027.
The calendar change nonetheless wants sign-off from the FIA World Motor Sport Council. F1’s personal end-of-season calendar is, for now, unchanged.