WRC announces expanded 14-round 2025 calendar

The World Rally Championship is gearing up for its most extensive season since 2008, as evidenced by the announcement of a 2025 calendar that includes 14 events.

As previously mentioned, the WRC schedule will broaden next year to incorporate three new rallies, with the Canary Islands, Paraguay, and Saudi Arabia making their entries into the calendar.

This year’s schedule consists of five flyaway events, four asphalt rallies, nine gravel rounds, and one snow event.

Monte Carlo will continue its tradition as the season opener in January, returning to its base in Gap. The rally is set to feature its longest itinerary since 2018, kicking off with three stages at night on Thursday.

Following Monte Carlo, the championship moves to the snowy terrains of Sweden in February before making its annual trip to Kenya in March. The new rallies will debut as April’s fourth round, with Spain making a comeback to the calendar after a two-year hiatus through Rally Islas Canarias, which transitions from the European Rally Championship.

This asphalt event replaces Croatia, which has been removed from the calendar due to the failure to secure a new agreement.

Portugal marks the beginning of seven consecutive gravel rallies, which include Sardinia and the Acropolis Rally; the latter is returning to its traditional June slot after being held in September in previous years.

Grégoire Munster, Louis Louka, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

In July, Estonia reenters the calendar to replace Latvia, leading into Finland, with the WRC visiting Paraguay for the first time in August. The South American nation has secured a multi-year deal to host high-level rallying, with the gravel round scheduled two weeks prior to the second South American event in Chile.

Following its debut last year, the Central European Rally, featuring asphalt stages across Germany, Austria, and the Czech Republic, will return in October, preceding the fourth asphalt rally of the season in Japan.

The brand-new Rally Saudi Arabia, which has signed a 10-year contract with the WRC, will conclude the season in November, marking the Middle East’s first appearance on the WRC calendar since Rally Jordan in 2011.

“This is a thrilling calendar that seamlessly blends our traditional rallies with three exciting new challenges, two of which are outside Europe, underscoring the global appeal of our championship,” stated WRC Promoter Managing Director Jona Siebel.

“From the icy tracks in the French Alps to the deep snow in Sweden, blinding dust in Kenya and Sardinia, high-speed gravel rollercoasters in Finland and Estonia, and finally the deserts of Saudi Arabia – the variety we are providing in 2025 is unmatched.”

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem remarked: “It is wonderful to witness such a full calendar for the 2025 WRC season. With both classic venues that fans adore and the addition of new rallies in Spain, Paraguay, and Saudi Arabia, we are increasing excitement and reflecting the global diversity of both competitors and rally enthusiasts.”

2025 World Rally Championship Calendar