Sources claim that local organisers are entirely confident that the championship will make its debut in Paraguay by next year.
Local media report that the rally in Paraguay could take place as early as August next year, with Encarnación serving as the epicentre of the event. This small city is the capital of the Itapúa department, and the rally is expected to traverse the entire administrative region.
Reports indicate a confirmed decision on the matter. The government led by President Santiago Peña has supposedly reached an agreement with the WRC Promoter, covering the years 2025, 2026, and 2027.
This isn’t the first time the event has been in discussion. As previously reported in December, “presidential level negotiations” have been ongoing for some time.
The long-term goal of the World Rally Championship has been to expand its reach in South America. It has already been suggested that Argentina might return to the WRC calendar by 2025, provided the country’s economic situation improves.
From a logistical standpoint, it would certainly be beneficial to schedule the South American races consecutively. This year, the championship’s presence in South America is limited to Chile, which was also part of the calendar last year.
The Chilean WRC event is set for September. Next year, it’s quite possible that the competitions in Paraguay and Chile could be held back-to-back. In theory, three consecutive races in South America could be feasible, although there are no plans for such a schedule at the moment.
Expanding into South America would also be a significant PR victory for the World Rally Championship. The region is home to a vast population with a passionate interest in rallying.
According to Ultima Hora, there’s a “95 percent certainty” that the Paraguayan WRC event will occur next year, with an official announcement from the government eagerly awaited.
