WRC Rally Finland
Future second Asian/Pacific event behind WRC calendar reshuffle
The WRC is in talks with Indonesia, Australia, New Zealand and China regarding a future second event in the region
Tom Howard
Published: Aug 5, 2025, 9:00 AM
Copy link
Share on Viber
Rally New Zealand 2022 | Sebastien Ogier, Benjamin Veillas, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool
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, which 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.
Read Also:
“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.”
Rally Australia 2018 | Ott Tanak, Martin Järveoja, Toyota Yaris WRC, Toyota Gazoo Racing
Photo by: Toyota Racing
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 come 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 the round.
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.
1999 China Rally | Winner Didier Auriol, Toyota Corolla
Photo by: Ralph Hardwick
“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.”
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.”
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article Sebastien Ogier sets sights on WRC 2025 title push
Next article Carlos Sainz’s historic Ford Escort WRC expected to fetch £350,000 at auction
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Tom Howard
FIA ratifies key 2027 WRC sporting regulations
WRC
WRC 14 min
FIA ratifies key 2027 WRC sporting regulations
WRC’s new champion Elfyn Evans celebrates title with Wales show run
WRC
WRC
WRC’s new champion Elfyn Evans celebrates title with Wales show run
Latest news
FIA ratifies key 2027 WRC sporting regulations
WRC
WRC WRC 14 min
FIA ratifies key 2027 WRC sporting regulations
Toprak Razgatlioglu to miss the rest MotoGP season due to shoulder injury
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Australian GP
1 h
Toprak Razgatlioglu to miss the rest MotoGP season due to shoulder injury
MotoGP teams told Qatar Grand Prix expected to go ahead
MotoGP
MGP MotoGP
Qatar GP
1 h
MotoGP teams told Qatar Grand Prix expected to go ahead
Feature
Discover prime content
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe