The WRC promoter revealed in Sardinia that the series will expand to Saudi Arabia starting next season.
The WRC series has signed a direct 10-year deal with the Saudis. Such long-term agreements are rarely made.
Taking the WRC series to Saudi Arabia has caused some discontent. The country has practised so-called sportswashing for years. The term refers to the country’s attempts to improve its public image through sports. Recently, Saudi Arabia has also invested in Formula 1, football, and golf.
Of course, athletes and sports series are attracted to the country by money. Completely outrageous net salaries are paid to series and athletes. At the same time, it must be remembered that human rights in the country are at a very low level.
Toyota team principal Jari-Matti Latvala sees something positive in the Saudi rally project, purely from a sporting perspective.
“If a ten-year agreement is made, at least it shows strong commitment”, Latvala said to RallyJournal.com.
“If I have understood correctly, they have a strong desire and are investing a lot in motorsports”, Latvala continued.
In the realm of Formula 1, Saudi Arabia has built a motorsport track from scratch. It has been criticised, among other things, for its danger. Regarding rallying, a candidate event will be held in the country next year when the season is already underway.
“Of course, it will be interesting to see what kind of special stages they have. It is an important matter for drivers and teams as well. It will be exciting to see what the overall package will be like, but there is commitment and enthusiasm there, so it will be interesting to see”, Latvala pondered.
