Rally Saudi Arabia has been scrapped from the 2026 World Rally Championship calendar, leaving Rally Italia Sardegna as the season finale.
The FIA and WRC Promoter have called off November’s Saudi round amid ongoing upheaval in the region, with no replacement event planned. That means the championship will be decided in Italy rather than across the final two rallies.
The consequences are huge. Instead of 70 points being available over two rounds, just 35 remain on the table in Sardinia.
Elfyn Evans leads a three-way fight by only 17 points from Sami Pajari and Oliver Solberg. With everything now riding on one gravel weekend in Alghero, the title battle goes down to the wire from 1–4 October. The Welshman, five-times the bridesmaid, must score 19 points in the finale, whatever happens. Second overall and a couple of Wolf Power Stage and Super Sunday bonus points would see him home and dry, whoever wins…
Italy was due to be the penultimate round. Now it is where the 2026 WRC crown will be won — or lost.
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the FIA, said: “We have worked closely with our partners in Saudi Arabia, our Member Club the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, WRC Promoter and our championship stakeholders in recent months to explore every possible route that would allow Rally Saudi Arabia to take place as planned. However, ongoing regional developments mean that the WRC element of Rally Saudi Arabia will not proceed this year. These are never easy decisions, particularly after the significant work undertaken by everyone involved in preparing for the event.
Éric Boullier, CEO of WRC Promoter, said: “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. 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.”
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