WRC announces largest schedule since 2008 with 2025 calendar

The World Rally Championship (WRC) is set for its largest season since 2008 after unveiling its 2025 calendar.

Confirmed:

• The 2025 season will take in 14 rounds across four continents
• Rallies in Spain, Paraguay and Saudi Arabia represent new additions
• Estonia returns to the calendar after a one-year hiatus
• As expected, Croatia, Latvia and Poland all drop off the calendar

Context:

There are no major surprises on next year’s schedule, with the Rally Islas Canarias giving Spain its first rally in two years after signing a two-year contract back in March. The mammoth ten-year deal signed to race in Saudi Arabia sees the series’ return to the Middle East as next year’s season finale, while the multi-year pact signed with Paraguay allows for two races in South America.

The three races to leave the schedule were all expected, with Rally Croatia working towards a return in 2026. One slight surprise is the inclusion of the Rally Safari Kenya, especially as this year’s event was expected to be the last.

Comment:

“This is a hugely exciting calendar which perfectly blends our traditional rallies with three exciting new challenges, two of which are outside of Europe, highlighting once again the global appeal of our championship,” said WRC Promoter managing director Jona Siebel.

“From the ice in the French Alps, knee-deep snow in Sweden, blinding dust in Kenya and Sardinia, high-speed gravel rollercoasters in Finland and Estonia and finally deserts in Saudi Arabia – the variety we are offering in 2025 is unrivalled.”

Coming next:

WRC has five rounds left in its 2024 season, with the next rally taking place this weekend in Finland from 1st to 4th August.

Go deeper:

• Beyond Rally 2024: Why technological, social and environmental innovation is needed for motorsport to achieve sustainable progress
• WRC and DAZN sign eight-year global distribution deal for Rally.TV