12 rounds on the 2021 WRC calendar

Le WRC 2021 is taking shape. Friday evening at the end of its world council, the FIA ​​revealed the 12 events which will integrate the championship in 2021, two fewer than the original 2020 calendar. The least we can say is that it will give pride of place to Europe. Only three rounds will take place outside the old continent, Kenya (June 24 to 27), Chile (September 9 to 12) and Japan which will end the season from November 11 to 14.

Kenya and Japan were to host their first rally in 2020 before being canceled. As expected, neither Argentina nor Mexico are on the program. The WRC will also not travel to Oceania since Australia and New Zealand are not present.

The promoters wanted the first half of the year to take place almost exclusively in Europe to respond to travel restrictions. The same goes for the choice to interrupt the championship for two months after the winter events.

“The coronavirus hit international events extremely hard and the WRC was not spared, which led us to cancel several rounds,” commented WRC director Jona Siebel. “So we had to make pragmatic and strategic decisions to take into account travel issues next year. We couldn't afford long transports in the first five months safely. »

The main novelty will be the Croatia Rally, which makes its first appearance on the calendar from April 22 to 25. Estonia, which was selected at the last moment to host the return of the WRC in September, is also part of the lot.

Turkey, Latvia, Belgium, Greece, Italy and Argentina constitute plan B possibilities in the event of cancellation of the events on the initial calendar.

The full calendar:

Monte Carlo (January 21-24)
Sweden (February 11-14)
Croatia (April 22-25)
Portugal (May 20-23)
Italy Sardinia (June 3-6)
Kenya Safari (June 24-27)
Estonia (July 15-18)
Finland (July 29 – August 1)
Great Britain (August 19-22)
Chile (September 9-12)
Spain Catalonia (October 14-17)
Japan (November 11-14)