Kenya, NZ and Japan features in 14-rally calendar for 2020 WRC season

The 2020 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar features Kenya, New Zealand and Japan replacing three existing rallies.

As expected, Kenya and Japan will get full WRC status in 2020 in the calendar released by the FIA after trial run in 2019, with New Zealand also joining in to replace three existing rallies.

Missing out are France, Spain and Australia as the addition and subtraction is to change the order of the 2020 WRC calendar. The season will start with Rally Monte Carlo (January 23-26) as expected.

It will follow up with Rally Sweden (February 13-16), with the American rallies next up, starting with Rally Mexico (March 12-15), followed by Rally Chile (April 16-19) and Rally Argentina (April 30 – May 3).

They will move back to Europe for Rally Portugal (May 21-24) and Rally Italy (June 4-7) with Safari Rally (Kenya, July 16-19) in between, followed by Rally Finland (August 6-9) in Europe again.

They will move to different side of the world for Rally New Zealand (September 3-6) and get back for Rally Turkey (September 24-27), with Rally Germany (October 15-18) next up towards the end of the season.

The 2020 WRC season will finish off with Rally Great Britain (October 29 – November 1) and Rally Japan (November 19-22). The Japanese event will take place in Nagoya instead of Hokkaido.

“It’s no secret we wanted to further globalise the series by incorporating more events outside Europe and we’ve achieved that next year with this exciting new-look calendar,” said Oliver Ciesla.

“The return of Japan and Kenya provide a presence in the world’s largest two continents by size for the first time in more than two decades. The last time Asia and Africa appeared in the WRC together was 1999.

“The two continents are huge markets for the WRC and I thank everyone involved from both countries and the FIA who have been instrumental in returning the rallies to the calendar for 2020.

“New Zealand requires no introduction. It has a long and successful WRC history and the return of its curving billiard-table smooth special stages near Auckland will be one of the year’s highlights.

“This is the most varied WRC calendar ever in terms of geographic locations, visiting six of the world’s seven continents. The additions provide a refreshing new feel to our fixture list and open an exciting new chapter to the championship, one that will appeal to both competitors and fans alike.”

2020 WRC calendar: