A new 2023 calendar for the WRC

The promoter is close to finalizing the program for next year's World Rally Championship. If the main points were already known, there is still a surprise.

Published on 05/10/2022 à 12:26

Loïc ROCCI

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A new 2023 calendar for the WRC

Rally New Zealand will not return to the calendar in 2023 (Photo Nikos Katikis / DPPI)

Regarding the number of events, the main players all seem to agree that 14 meetings is an acceptable total. The distribution should be different from that envisaged by the promoter since only five rounds will be run outside Europe and not six.

If the dates have not yet been revealed, the order should be as follows: Monte-Carlo in January, Sweden in February, Mexico in March, Croatia in April, Portugal in May, Sardinia at the beginning of June, Safari at the end of June, Estonia in July, Finland in August, Chile which returns in September, Greece at the end of September, rally from the Center of Europe which will be one of the two new features of the WRC in October, Japan in November and finally Saudi Arabia in December. “ For the latter, we explain from the promoter side, It still takes a little time to confirm it, but we should offer three rallies in one with one day on classic specials, one day on desert tracks and one mixed day. By introducing it late in the year, this should allow us to have a round in the sun in December. This will obviously count for the MERC championship and we should be sure to find a structure that knows its work.."

Without New Zealand in 2023

This argument also comes up when talking about the event which should be run in three countries. “ This will concern Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic., we develop on the promoter's side. ADAC, which is used to organizing events, will oversee all this and the epicenter will be in Passau, half an hour northeast of Munich airport. The start will be in Prague and special stages will be run in the Bohemia rally area. It promises to be selective at this time of year. Then, there will be the Austrian part in the Mühlviertel region and finally times borrowed from an event in Bavaria for Germany. It is a very good project, particularly because of the German market, but also because of its central location. By integrating this new event, it forced us to remove one on the asphalt and it is Spain which will pay the price, without there being anything to reproach Catalunya. »

This schedule should not see too many changes in 2024, except perhaps with the introduction of a round in the USA. Organized near Chattanooga, Tennessee, this rally must undergo official observation before being able to appear on the program. The official calendar will not be revealed until the end of the World Council on October 19.

ALSO READ > New Zealand rally absent from 2023 calendar

Loïc ROCCI

Journalist specializing in rallying past, present and future... and with a southern accent

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