The new WRC calendar is here! Kenya back in the traditional date, premiere in Saudi Arabia, will be held again in the Czech Republic

The World Rally Championship (WRC) has published its calendar for the 2025 season, with a total of fourteen events on a variety of surfaces next year, something the series has not done since 2008. Highlights include the move of the legendary Safari Rally Kenya to a more traditional March or the arrival of a race in Saudi Arabia. Czech WRC fans, at least, will be pleased to know that the Central European Rally, of which the Czech tests are a part, remains on the calendar on a similar date to last year.

With the arrival of the period typical for the publication of new motorsport calendars, it was about time for another major motorsport discipline to present its own programme for the 2025 season after Formula 1. While MotoGP fans will have to wait for the list of events for next year, this time around the WRC has overtaken them.

The World Rally Championship has been promising for some time the arrival of countries that either haven’t appeared on the WRC calendar yet, or haven’t appeared on it for a long time. Outside of the kovid years, the championship’s racing programme has always consisted of thirteen events since 2009.

Before that, it had managed to climb to sixteen race weekends. However, the WRC organisers wanted to give the other candidates a chance to host world-class rallies. This has been successful so far, but attractive locations such as the USA or Wales have not yet found a way to squeeze into the calendar.

On the other hand, Saudi Arabia, which has also been trying to enter the WRC for some time, has got its way. The desert country has managed to squeeze into the World Rally Championship alongside F1 and will welcome WRC cars for the first time next year. Saudi Arabia has become the final event of the season and the rally there will take place from 27-30 November. Paraguay in South America will also make its debut in September, while Spain returns at a new venue and Estonia.

The World Championship calendar has thus grown to fourteen events. The organisers had identical plans in 2016 and 2019. In both cases, however, Rally China and Rally Australia were cancelled due to adverse conditions.

New WRC calendar, to be held in the Czech Republic again!

Another notable change in the WRC calendar has occurred in the case of the Safari Rally in Kenya. Before it made its spectacular return in 2021 after eighteen years, this traditional test was normally held in the spring months. From the 2025 season, however, the rally will regain its place at the start of the season, namely between 20 and 23 March.

Czech WRC fans, however, will not be facing any such changes if they head to the second edition of the Central European Rally. Last year’s debut resulted not only in the crowning of last year’s World Champion Kalle Rovanpera, but also, and most importantly, in an awesome attendance at the event.

Like last year, the Central European Rally will take place in October, from 16 to 19 October. Anyway, you can see the full WRC calendar for the 2025 edition in the attached post below.

Source: WRC, FIA, X