The FIA and WRC Promoter have confirmed that Rally Saudi Arabia’s WRC component will not take place this year, prompting a proposed change to the venue of the 2026 season finale. Under the new plan announced on September 17, Rally Italia Sardegna on October 1-4 would become the 13th and final round, subject to approval of the calendar change by the FIA World Motor Sport Council. Saudi Arabia’s withdrawal from the WRC is confirmed; Sardinia taking over as the finale remained a proposal awaiting approval at the time of the announcement.
WRC component withdrawn, MERC preparations continue as planned
The FIA said the parties had spent months discussing various ways to hold the Saudi WRC event as scheduled, but continuing regional uncertainty affected the logistical arrangements required for the world championship. The final decision concerns the WRC component originally scheduled for November 12-15. The official statement did not describe the decision as a failure of local organisational capacity or announce an end to the long-term partnership with Saudi Arabia.
The local Saudi rally has not been cancelled in its entirety. Its FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC) round remains scheduled for November 11-14, with the FIA continuing to work with the Saudi Automobile and Motorcycle Federation and the organising team. These are events in different championships, with different dates in the announcement: November 12-15 for the withdrawn WRC component and November 11-14 for the retained MERC event.
Sardinia proposed as finale, while Saudi return remains a shared goal
If the new plan is approved, Sardinia will conclude the 2026 WRC season in early October, leaving a 13-round calendar across four continents. Motorsport.com reported that no replacement round would be arranged following Saudi Arabia’s cancellation, reducing the original 14-round plan by one. The change therefore does not move the Saudi competition to Sardinia. It removes one round and makes the existing Sardinia event the last of the season.
Rally Saudi Arabia first joined the WRC in 2025. In their statement, the FIA and Saudi representatives continued to emphasise local readiness and confidence in the long-term partnership. WRC Promoter also said it would keep working towards a return to the world championship in 2027. That return is a goal the parties are pursuing, not confirmation that a 2027 round is secured. Similarly, retaining the MERC event does not change the decision to withdraw the 2026 WRC component.
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Continuing with MERC while withdrawing WRC may appear to be two different decisions about the same rally, but the announcement distinguishes between two championship components. The FIA identifies regional uncertainty affecting logistics as the WRC difficulty, while the organisers’ statements about readiness concern local hosting preparations. Being ready locally does not establish that every logistical requirement for a world championship event is settled. Both statements can be true. Officials have not disclosed enough detail to compare the two events’ transport requirements further, nor have they treated the MERC event’s survival as evidence that the WRC round could still go ahead.
For the title contenders, the most immediate effect of losing a round is the removal of November’s final opportunity to recover a points deficit. In its September 17 announcement, the FIA noted a 17-point gap between the top two in the drivers’ championship. If the Sardinia finale plan is approved, they will have no subsequent Saudi WRC round at which to change the final standings. That gap describes the situation at the announcement and cannot, by itself, establish that the title is already decided. Points gained and lost in the remaining competition will still determine the contest. What disappears is a later opportunity to recover, not uncertainty over which driver will win.
Conclusion
Three elements must be kept separate: Saudi Arabia’s WRC component is leaving the 2026 calendar, the Saudi MERC round is proceeding as planned, and Sardinia becoming the October finale still requires approval. If the revised calendar is approved, the season will end after 13 rounds and contenders will have one fewer opportunity to change the picture in November. Saudi representatives, the FIA and WRC Promoter continue to seek a 2027 return, but a future partnership goal cannot replace an approved calendar.
