The FIA has chosen to cancel the Saudi Arabia Rally as the closing round of the 2026 World Rally Championship season, putting even more pressure on Formula 1 to reconsider its visit later this year in the Middle East.
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The sport’s governing body and the WRC promoter confirmed that the Rally, originally scheduled for November 12 to 15, is no longer part of the championship calendar.
The governing body explained that it worked hard in recent months with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation, local organizers, and championship supporters to try to find a way to proceed with the event. Despite the efforts, “the ongoing uncertainty in the region and its impact on logistical issues prevented the WRC round from taking place.”
It turns out the rally itself takes place on the same weekend as part of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship; Saudi Arabia emphasized that it “remains ready to host the event safely and successfully” and that the Kingdom “continues to operate normally, with national systems fully functional.”
Now, the 2026 WRC season ends with the Sardinia Rally, held from October 1 to 4, the 13th and final round of the year.
This leaves F1 even more attentive to its own calendar. After the cancellations of the Bahrain and Saudi Arabia GPs in April, it remains to be seen if it can close the calendar in Qatar and Abu Dhabi, in November and December.
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Rumors indicate that the races will be canceled and the final round of Formula 1 will take place in Imola, Italy.
Regarding the WRC, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA president, said that “in recent months, we have worked closely with our partners in Saudi Arabia, including our member club, the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation (SAMF), the WRC promoter, and championship stakeholders, to explore all possibilities that would allow the Saudi Arabia Rally to take place as planned.”
“However, due to ongoing regional developments, the WRC round of the Saudi Arabia Rally will not be held this year. Decisions like this are never easy, especially after the significant work done by all involved in preparing the event. Although the WRC round will not take place this year, our confidence in the organizers and the long-term future of the rally remains unchanged.”
“The FIA Middle East Rally Championship round will proceed as planned in November, and we will continue working closely with SAMF, SMC, and the organizing team to support the successful staging of the event in November. Our focus is now fully on the future. We will continue working together with our partners in Saudi Arabia and the WRC promoter to bring the FIA World Rally Championship back in 2027,” he concluded.
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