Rally Chile makes its WRC debut

It's a surprise for the World Rally Championship (WRC). While many rumors in the corridor reported a return of Rally of Japan in the 2019 calendar, it was ultimately Chile who won, with an event scheduled for May 10 to 12.

This South American country has never hosted a world round. But Chile does not arrive out of nowhere. Last spring, Michèle Mouton, head of the Safety Commission for the WRC, and Timo Rautiainen (former teammate of Marcus Grönholm, currently at the FIA) were invited by the organization of the Concepción Rally (second largest city in the country) to analyze the feasibility of the event at WRC level.

Chile takes place two weeks after the neighboring event, the Rally Argentina. Chile is the only new feature on the 2019 calendar, but above all, it does not replace any event. This is good news for French fans and Germans, who see their national meeting extended their WRC lease.

The usual triptych of Monte-Carlo, Sweden and Mexico will open the season. We will see the huge mid-season break after the Rally of Sardinia (Italy), with almost two months of break until the return to Finland. The season will end in the third week of November in Australia, as is already the case in 2018.

WRC 2019 Calendar

January 27: Monte Carlo
February 17: Sweden
March 10: Mexico
March 31: Tour of Corsica
April 28: Argentina
May 12: Chile
June 2: Portugal
June 16: Sardinia
August 4: Finland
August 25: Germany
September 15: Türkiye
October 6: Wales Rally GB
October 27: Spain
November 17: Australia