According to Simon Larkin, event director of the WRC’s promoter company, the championship could well feature 15 rounds per season in the future instead of the current 14. However, at least next year’s calendar will still contain 14 events.
When the new calendar was announced, attention was drawn in particular to the fact that Central European Rally had been dropped.
Read more: 2026 WRC calendar revealed – long-awaited event misses out
Instead, Croatia returned to the calendar, and Italy will also host a round again next year. In the future, the WRC wants to add another rally in Asia or the Pacific region alongside Japan. The United States and China are also on the wish list.
This has raised concerns about the fate of the European rounds.
“It’s a fair question. We’re on 14 events. We haven’t shied away from saying that 15 is a possibility. It was discussed with manufacturers and with our own board. In terms of going to 15 events, we decided not to – that’s in alignment with our key stakeholders, particularly in light of the development of new cars and so on,” says Simon Larkin.
“The US would probably have been the 15th, but again, to go to 15 with the US, where we’d have to take – dare I say it – financial commitments, that’s a bigger question than just adding one more event,” Larkin continues.
The WRC’s expansion has focused on areas outside Europe. For example, the markets in the United States and China are of such a scale that entering them could have a major impact on the championship.
“15th event could perhaps come in 2027, when we have a proper vision of the cost of competing for the teams, the ability to have spare cars or second sets of chassis, all that sort of thing. That’s something we’ll look at then,” Larkin explains.
However, Europe remains the home of rallying. It is where the sport enjoys the most followers and has a long-established fan base. According to Larkin, this will continue to be taken into account in the future.
“No question. I can always see a likelihood where at least half the events are in Europe. And that’s about cost and logistics. It’s also about the fans – giving our fans events where the demand for rallying is greatest. But also, it’s simply the home of rallying, more so than anywhere else,” Larkin confirms.
At present, there are no plans for new events in Europe – unless Ireland joins the calendar in the near future. For example, the traditional Tour de Corse in France is not set to return to the WRC calendar.
“France is not a target. We have Rally Monte Carlo, and we consider that France round,” says Larkin.
Monte Carlo’s place in the WRC calendar is cemented. The rally remains based in Gap, but efforts are also being made to develop the Rally Monte Carlo further to offer more fan-focused features.
One example is that next year the WRC will, after a long break, feature a stage on the streets of Monaco – best known as the iconic venue of Formula One.
“We’re delighted with the plans we’ve developed with ACM. We’re staying in Gap, but they’ve heard and responded to concerns. And we’re having a super special stage in Monaco for the first time since 2008. Fantastic: Saturday night, the streets of Monaco – this is going to be really, really cool,” Larkin enthuses.
Central European Rally has been run across three different countries, with stages in Germany, the Czech Republic and Austria. In Larkin’s view, its absence from the calendar is regrettable.
“It’s unfortunate to lose CER. There are key reasons for that on both sides of the table,” says Larkin.
