The 2026 season of the World Rally Championship (WRC) has just faced an unexpected turn with the announcement of the cancellation of the rally in Saudi Arabia, which was scheduled to be held from November 11 to 14. This decision results from the health and political uncertainty affecting the region, leaving the Rally of Sardinia as the last event of the championship.
After weeks of negotiations with organizers and teams, the FIA has confirmed that there will be no replacement round. The cancellation has been driven by the travel protocols of the companies Toyota and Hyundai, which have prohibited their members from traveling to the rally union. M-Sport-Ford had expressed its willingness to participate but received warnings against travel to certain areas of Saudi Arabia.
The FIA president, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, has expressed his regret over the cancellation, highlighting that despite the efforts made to ensure the event, the current circumstances have made it impossible. The FIA will continue collaborating with the organizers and stakeholders to secure the future of the rally and its reinstatement in the calendar in 2027.
With the suspension of the rally in Saudi Arabia, the WRC will conclude in Sardinia from October 1 to 4, a situation that will surprise many, as it was expected that a replacement event would be sought. Now, Welsh driver Elfyn Evans positions himself as the strong favorite for the title, leading the standings with a 17-point advantage over his Toyota teammate, Sami Pajari.
In addition, in the WRC2 category, the cancellation of the rally has crowned Robert Virves as champion, as he surpasses second-placed Yohan Rossel by 32 points.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
