The 2025 World Rally Championship calendar is getting closer to completion following the news that Paraguay will make its debut next season.
The WRC is eyeing a 14-round schedule for 2025, which can provide a more global calendar than it has been capable of compete in recent seasons following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Two events within the South American region were identified as key targets for 2025 and have now been achieved. Paraguay and Argentina emerged as options earlier this 12 months, with the previous signing a multi-year deal to turn out to be the thirty eighth country to host a round of the WRC. It is predicted to hitch fellow South American country Chile on next 12 months's schedule, having rejoined the WRC last 12 months following its 2019 debut.
The announcement was made on Saturday evening within the Paraguayan capital Asunción by President Santiago Peña through the ceremonial start of the Petrobras Rally Transchaco 2024 – the third round of the Paraguayan national championship.
“Paraguay is big and the world is within the means of discovering us. Hosting world-class events just like the WRC is one other strategy to show the world our greatness,” said President Peña.
The thriving rally scene is one among the the explanation why the WRC is keen so as to add Paraguay to its event package. The last eleven editions of the FIA South American Rally Championship have also been won by drivers from Paraguay, with Fabrizio Zaldivar becoming a longtime WRC2 competitor and Diego Dominguez being one among the favorites for the Junior WRC and WRC3 titles.
“We have been in talks with Paraguay for many years and I am extremely pleased that an agreement has been reached,” said WRC competition director Simon Larkin, who was present on the launch.
“The nation's passion for rallying cannot be questioned and we look forward to sharing that passion, as well as Paraguay's spectacular landscapes, with the world.”
The Paraguay date on the 2025 WRC calendar has not yet been confirmed. However, the gravel rally will happen within the southern city of Encarnacion. The stages will happen throughout the Itapua region, which annually hosts a round of the FIA South American Rally Championship.
Paraguay's inclusion on the 2025 calendar comes after the announcement that the WRC may even head to Saudi Arabia next 12 months as a part of a 10-year deal that can bring the championship to a Middle Eastern country for the primary time.
It might be the third recent round in 2025 after the Canary Islands Rally was confirmed to conclude the European Rally Championship and can host the WRC for the primary time when Spain rejoins the calendar.
Paraguay looks set to be one among the ultimate touches on the 2025 WRC calendar, which is predicted to be finalized in July.
In addition to the brand new events, it was confirmed that Poland might be dropped from the schedule after this 12 months, and Estonia will return rather than Latvia, which can make its debut this 12 months after promotion from the ERC.
The WRC confirmed in April that this was the case was working on extending the contract with Croatia, which is within the last 12 months of the contract.
Monte Carlo is predicted to open the campaign, while Sweden, Kenya, Portugal, Italy (Sardinia), Finland, Greece, Chile and Japan will participate.
