WRC to return to the Middle East from 2025
The World Rally Championship is set to return to the Middle East for the first time since 2011, as a ten-year agreement is signed with Saudi Arabia to host a round of the WRC from the 2025 season.
The WRC has been absent from the region since the final Jordan Rally 13 years ago, with the move signifying the series’ commitment to bringing the spectacle of the WRC to fans the world over. Rally Saudi is set to provide what the WRC calls ‘conditions never previously encountered in WRC history,’ with ‘surfaces ranging from volcanic rock to sandy desert terrain.’
Saudi is already a popular spot for other motorsport disciplines, with rounds of Formula 1, Formula E, and Extreme E taking place there, in addition to the Dakar Rally. It’s also a popular location for sports outside of motor racing, including football and golf.
"This is a great moment for motorsport in the Middle East,” said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. “It has been over a decade since the FIA World Rally Championship last visited the region, and from my own experience, I know very well the unique challenges that the drivers and co-drivers will face when Rally Saudi Arabia gets underway in 2025.
“It's going to be a great opportunity for national and regional drivers to showcase their talents on the world stage.”
Images courtesy of Motorsport Images.
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