Our predictions for the 2024 WRC calendar: 14 rallies with the United States?

Before the pandemic shut down everything, the promoter of WRC already had the idea of ​​increasing the number of appointments. This objective will perhaps be achieved in 2024 since there should be 14 dates. “ This is our ambition, confirms Simon Larkin (Event Director WRC Promoter). HAS Medium term is what suits the teams best when we take into account transport, testing and logistics. We do not want and we cannot do like the Formula 1 or Moto GP who follow the races. »

If next year Europe will still remain in the majority, the leaders ultimately wish to impose parity which will cause damage among the institutional sleeves. In the meantime, the framework of what lies ahead for competitors is based on a few certainties with well-known names like Monte-Carlo, Sweden, Portugal which has just re-signed for 2024 (and an option for 2025), Sardinia , Finland, the Acropolis and Central Europe.

ALSO READ > Latvia integrated into the WRC in 2024

So far, the only real news will happen in Latvia with the replacement of Estonia by Liepaja. A question seems to hover over Croatia where the promoter wants to return, but with which nothing has yet been formalized. If the project that the Irish are trying to set up succeeds, Zagreb has a good chance of losing its place. Otherwise, the WRC will go for 4^e consecutive time in the Balkans. Concerning the events outside Europe, there will be no bad surprises for the Safari, Japan and Chile which will be there. Having failed to enter Saudi Arabia in 2023, this should happen next year after a test race.

ALSO READ > A test rally to assess the return of the WRC to the United States

« We wish that each rally represents a chapter within a season, explains Larkin. I think an event on desert type roads is the last little piece of the puzzle that we are missing. » The final question concerns the presence or not of the United States. The promoter refuses to rush and will probably wait a little longer to be sure he can offer the right show capable of pleasing the American public. If this happens in 2024, there is a high probability that Mexico will fall by the wayside. Otherwise, the WRC will return to León and Guanajuato.