The factors behind the WRC 2026 calendar reshuffle

Plans to add a second Asia/Pacific round to future World Rally Championship calendars is among the reasons for a reshuffle in the schedule of events for 2026.

The WRC unveiled its 14-round calendar last week that featured several changes including the omission of Rally USA and the Central European Rally. However, one of the most notable alterations was the decision for Japan and Italy to switch slots.

Japan will move from November to late May, while Italy will now host the penultimate round in October. The WRC has explained that there are multiple reasons for the switch. 

“That May/June date is more of an ideal place for Japan. It serves a few purposes,” said WRC event director Simon Larkin at Rally Finland.

“One is it does provide a break-up of the tougher gravel events with an asphalt event. [Championship leader] Elfyn Evans hasn’t had the easiest run of events [opening the road] so there are sporting reasons for it as well. 

“It also means we can have better timelines for a sea freight movement and also it then puts Japan in an area of the calendar where we can hopefully add another event in that region without interfering with sea freight schedules in 2027 and beyond. 

“We have always said we have the aspiration to have more than one event in Asia/Pacific region and this now means that can sort of be paired, if you like, a little bit better with that. There is room for an additional event there.”

Larkin says the WRC is locked in talks with Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and China to fill that proposed second event slot in the future, and an announcement could arrive in the coming months. Should this happen, the prospect of expanding the calendar to 15 rounds in the future has been discussed with the manufacturers and teams. 

Earlier this year a heads of agreement was signed with the Indonesian government for the nation to rejoin the WRC for the first time since 1997. New Zealand and Australia have declared interest in hosting a round of the championship. New Zealand last hosted the WRC in 2022, while Australia was set to host a round in 2019 before bushfires forced organisers to cancel.

WRC representatives met with members of the Chinese federation to discuss the potential of a future WRC round at Formula E’s London E-Prix last month. The country previously featured on the schedule in 1999.

“I expect that we will be able to make an announcement probably in the next couple of months for 2027. It is exciting as ever for the last few years; we have way more exciting opportunities than we have slots in the calendar. It makes my job easier,” added Larkin. 

“New Zealand wants to come back, we are in discussions with a government in Australia and Indonesia, they are the main ones in that region at the moment. All of which are incredibly viable for 2027.” 

1999 China Rally | Winner Didier Auriol, Toyota Corolla

Photo by: Ralph Hardwick

Italy round location yet to be decided

The location of Italy’s round is yet to be decided despite the FIA listing the October event as a gravel rally, which would appear to indicate Sardinia will continue as host.

Sardinia’s rough gravel roads have hosted the WRC every year, barring 2009, since the event moved from Sanremo on the mainland in 2004. Italy has also been represented in the WRC by Rally Monza in 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 restrictions were in place. This year’s event was the last of its current deal. 

Rally di Roma Capitale is keen to elevate its asphalt event from European Rally Championship status to WRC level.

“It was published as a gravel event on the calendar. There is an ambition to move it to Rome. We have signed a multi-year deal with [Italian ASN] ACI, and there is no fixed prescription on when it has to move,” added Larkin.

“We have moved it [the Italian round] to that time as it serves as a suitable slot for either location whether that is for next year or the year after that. It is on the calendar as a gravel event for next year. It will require a proposal and approval for its move.

“We moved it because that slot, whether it is for next year, 2027 or 2028, can be for either Sardinia or Rome.”

2025 Rally Sardinia | Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

Meanwhile, the WRC has confirmed that this year’s inaugural Rally Saudi Arabia season finale will run from Wednesday to Saturday instead of a traditional Sunday final day. The service parts will be based in the confines of the Jeddah Corniche Formula 1 circuit.   

“We will see how it goes for the first year but we want to make it as easy as possible for local spectators to come and experience the whole of the event, so running it on the Arabic weekend makes absolute sense,” added Larkin.

“We need to see how that impacts us regarding the audience and television to lose a Sunday but start it earlier. 

“We want this event that the Saudis themselves have ownership over and want to get involved in, so we are building it to suit them.”