Rally Saudi Arabia dropped from 2026 WRC calendar; championship finale moves to Sardinia

Rally Saudi Arabia will no longer form part of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), with ongoing regional developments and resulting logistical challenges prompting the FIA and WRC Promoter to remove the event from the championship calendar.

The rally will still take place from November 12 to 15 as part of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC).

The Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), WRC Promoter and the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) had explored options to keep the WRC event on schedule, but ultimately determined that the WRC component could not proceed this year.

Rally Saudi Arabia to continue as regional event

Despite the change to the WRC calendar, preparations for the Saudi event will continue.

The FIA said Rally Saudi Arabia will proceed as scheduled under the Middle East Rally Championship, with the federation continuing to work with SAMF and the local organising team on the event's delivery.

The Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation said the Kingdom remains prepared to host the rally and that its wider motorsport calendar will continue.

Sardinia to host final WRC round

The 2026 FIA World Rally Championship will instead conclude with Rally Italia Sardegna, scheduled for October 1 to 4.

The Sardinian event will become the 13th and final round of the 2026 championship, subject to approval by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

The championship enters its final stage with the FIA Drivers’ and Co-Drivers’ Championship leaders separated by 17 points, setting up a title battle across Sardinia's gravel stages.

FIA targets Saudi WRC return in 2027

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the decision followed extensive discussions with Saudi partners and championship stakeholders.

He said the WRC element would not proceed in 2026 because of regional developments, while expressing continued confidence in the organisers and the long-term prospects of the rally.

The FIA said it will work with its Saudi partners and WRC Promoter towards bringing the FIA World Rally Championship back to Saudi Arabia in 2027.

Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of SAMF and SMC, said Saudi Arabia had been prepared to host the event and would continue its local and regional motorsport programme.

WRC Promoter cites logistical challenges

Éric Boullier, CEO of WRC Promoter, said the decision was difficult given the preparations undertaken by Saudi partners.

However, he said ongoing regional developments and the resulting logistical challenges required greater certainty for the remainder of the 2026 season.

Boullier added that the decision did not reflect on the readiness or capability of the Saudi organisers, and said WRC Promoter would work with its partners towards the event's return to the championship in 2027.