The final round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia this November has been cancelled amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) confirmed. The event had been set for November 12 to 15 in the Saudi desert but will no longer proceed due to security concerns related to regional instability.
This announcement follows a broader pattern of disruptions to motorsport events in the Middle East this year. The Formula One Grand Prix in Saudi Arabia was also cancelled, and upcoming races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi face increasing uncertainty as tensions persist.
With the Saudi round off the calendar, Rally Sardinia, planned for October 1 to 4, will now serve as the final event of the WRC season. The manufacturers’ championship was clinched last weekend by Toyota in Chile, securing their season-long dominance.
The drivers’ championship, however, remains undecided. Welsh driver Elfyn Evans, who competes for Toyota, is leading the standings as he pursues his first drivers’ title. Close behind is Finnish contender Sami Pajari, driving a Toyota Yaris, with Swedish driver Oliver Solberg currently in third place.
The cancellation of the Saudi rally adds to the challenges faced by the WRC in maintaining its international schedule amid geopolitical tensions, leaving the season’s conclusion uncertain as teams and drivers prepare for the decisive rally in Sardinia.