The WRC has been eyeing a return to the Middle East for some time having last hosted a round in the region in 2011 courtesy of Rally Jordan.
Confirmation of a 10-year deal with Saudi Arabia was announced at this weekend’s Rally Sardinia, which has been attended by HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company.
Rally Saudi Arabia is set to host the final round of next year’s expected 14-event championship in November and could be set to hold that berth for the next five years at least. The rally will be held around Jeddah with stages featuring a mixture of mountain and desert roads. A test event is likely to be held early next year as part of the Middle East Rally Championship.
HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal, Chairman of the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motorsport Company with Thierry Neuville
“We are thrilled to host the FIA World Rally Championship for the first time in 2025. The arrival of another racing series of global stature in Saudi Arabia confirms the extent of our transformation into a major hub for motorsport in the region,” said HRH Prince Khalid Bin Sultan Al Abdullah Al-Faisal.
“From 2025 we will proudly host Formula 1, Formula E, Extreme E, the Dakar Rally and now WRC and Rally Saudi Arabia in the Kingdom – an extraordinary accomplishment.
“By growing our motorsport portfolio and further increasing our commitment to hosting major motorsport series such as WRC in the Kingdom, we remain true to the goals of Vison 2030 which aims to improve the lives of all Saudis.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem added: “This is a great moment for motorsport in the Middle East. It has been over a decade since the FIA World Rally Championship last visited the region, and from my own experience, I know very well the unique challenges that the drivers and co-drivers will face when Rally Saudi Arabia gets underway in 2025.”
Why the WRC is heading to Saudi Arabia
The WRC has outlined several reasons behind its move to host a round in Saudi Arabia.
This is the latest FIA motorsport series to venture to the nation following moves by Formula E with its Diriyah E-Prix in 2018, while Formula 1 added the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to its calendar in 2021. The nation has also hosted the Dakar Rally since 2020.
A move into the Middle East region is seen by the…
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