[REVISION HISTORY]

WRC 2026: Rally Saudi Arabia cancelled

Updated 10 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-09-26 17:53 UTC → 2026-09-27 08:43 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In mid-September 2026, the FIA and WRC Promoter confirmed that Rally Saudi Arabia has been removed from the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar. Originally scheduled for 12–15 November, the event will not be replaced by another WRC race. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem stated that despite attempts to find solutions with stakeholders, “persistent regional uncertainty and logistical repercussions made the WRC stage impossible to proceed.” While the WRC portion is cancelled, the event may still take place as a regional competition under the FIA Middle East Rally Championship. The cancellation is part of a broader trend of motorsport disruptions caused by regional conflict in the Middle East. Organisers Creventic have relocated the Michelin 24H Dubai to Kyalami in South Africa due to Gulf region uncertainty and rising logistics costs, while the Asian Le Mans Series has moved its 2026/27 campaign to Europe. The future of the 2026 Formula 1 season finale in Qatar and Abu Dhabi remains uncertain, with Imola, Italy, identified as a contingency venue. ~~Consequently,~~ Following the removal of the Saudi Arabian round, Rally Italia Sardegna in ~~Alghero, scheduled for 1–4 October,~~ Alghero has been designated as the thirteenth and final round of the 2026 WRC season. Scheduled for 1–4 October, the Sardinian event will serve as the venue where the drivers' championship title is decided. This revised calendar, pending approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, will see the championship decided on the gravel roads of northern Sardinia with 60 crews expected to compete. In the main WRC category, Elfyn Evans holds a 17-point lead over Sami Pajari, while Robert Virves and Jakko Viilo are positioned to secure the WRC2 title.

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