Japan, Kenya and New Zealand join 2020 WRC calendar

The World Rally Championship has confirmed that three new rounds will join the calendar in 2020, with the inclusion of Japan, Kenya and New Zealand.

The inclusion of Japan means for the first time the WRC will visit six continents in a single season – Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Australasia.

The calendar will remain at 14 rounds, meaning Australia, Corsica and Spain have been dropped.

"It’s no secret we wanted to further globalise the series by incorporating more events outside Europe and we’ve achieved that next year with this exciting new-look calendar," explained WRC promoter Oliver Ciesla.

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Kenya's iconic Safari Rally, which last ran in 2002, will evolve to fit the modern-day WRC, but the challenge will be no less with a mix of dirt and gravel roads and truly unique scenery. It will take place in July, between the Italian and Finnish rounds of the championship.

Rally New Zealand returns after a seven-year hiatus with the picturesque North Island coastal city of Auckland providing the backdrop.

The Japanese event moves from its traditional home of Hokkaido to Nagoya and will be an all-asphalt season finale.

Ciesla added: "The return of Japan and Kenya provide a presence in the world’s largest two continents by size for the first time in more than two decades. The last time Asia and Africa appeared in the WRC together was 1999.

"The two continents are huge markets for the WRC and I thank everyone involved from both countries and the FIA who have been instrumental in returning the rallies to the calendar for 2020.

"New Zealand requires no introduction. It has a long and successful WRC history and the return of its curving billiard-table smooth special stages near Auckland will be one of the year’s highlights."

2020 World Rally Championship Calendar