Rally Saudi Arabia cancelled WRC confirm
17th September 2026The World Rally Championship has confirmed that its season will come to its conclusion in Rally Italia Sardegna after Rally Saudi Arabia has been axed from the calendar.
Feature image credit: Jaanus Ree // Red Bull Content Pool
On Thursday, the WRC Promoter and FIA confirmed that the calendar will be shortened from its original 14-race schedule to 13 after it has been confirmed the Saudi event will no longer form the calendar in 2026.
The decision comes as a result of the uncertainty in the region, with the ongoing conflict in the Middle East relating to their local neighbours, Iran.
It had previously been reported, by Dirtfish, that Toyota and Hyundai had confirmed they were unable to attend the season finale due to their company travel restrictions to the region.
The WRC and FIA worked close with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF) to try and ensure it could go ahead, with exploring possible paths to allow it to proceed. However, with logistical arrangements and the region’s tension, it found the Saudi Arabian event would not be able to go ahead as planned.
But, it remains subject to approval from the World Motor Sport Council.
“This has been a difficult decision, particularly given the significant work and commitment from our partners in Saudi Arabia to prepare for this year’s event,” said Éric Boullier, CEO of WRC Promoter. “However, the ongoing regional developments and the resulting logistical challenges mean that we need to provide certainty and clarity for the remainder of the 2026 season.
“We greatly value our partnership with SAMF, SMC and the Ministry of Sport, and this decision is in no way a reflection of their ability or readiness to deliver a world-class WRC event. Our focus now is on working closely together towards the successful return of Rally Saudi Arabia to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2027.”
As a result, it means the championship will now conclude in Italy for the 13th round of the season at Rally Italia Sardegna, with the driver & co-driver championship still left to be decided.
Elfyn Evans continues to lead the drivers title alongside his co-driver, Scott Martin, as they edge closer to a maiden world championship title. The British crew lead the championship on 230 points, 17 points ahead of his closest championship rival, Sami Pajari.
Oliver Solberg still finds himself in contention, 21 points further back, after his second win of the season in Rally Chile BioBio, last time out.
However, both Pajari and Solberg will have to overcome a sturdy deficit to snatch the title away from the current point-leaders.
Whilst the WRC event will not go ahead, the FIA is still going ahead with the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, which will remain scheduled from November 12-15.
Read more WRC here:
- Solberg wins WRC Rally Chile as Toyota claim 10th title
- Oliver Solberg continues to head Rally Chile into final day
- Thierry Neuville rolls on first test of Rally Chile day two
- Oliver Solberg heads Rally Chile after day one morning loop
- Takamoto Katsuta’s South American woes continue in Rally Chile
- Rally Chile BioBio: Full WRC stage times and guide
- Katsuta crashes out at Rally Paraguay cancelling penultimate stage
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
