Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

WRC investigating possible return to Argentina in 2023

The World Rally Championship could return to Argentina next year after new FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said talks to bring the championship back to South America are underway.

Colin McRae, Nicky Grist, Ford Focus WRC

Colin McRae, Nicky Grist, Ford Focus WRC

McKlein / Motorsport Images

Rally Argentina has been absent from the WRC schedule since 2019, with the proposed 2020 event cancelled due to the COVID-19 health crisis.

As the world continues to grapple with the pandemic, the WRC has tended to steer away from flyaway events. South America wasn't represented on a 2021 schedule that only featured one round outside of Europe, Kenya's Safari Rally.

This year the WRC has revealed a 13-round calendar featuring long haul events in New Zealand and Japan, but again South America is absent from the schedule. One round in August is yet to be confirmed, although it is widely believed to be filled by Rally Northern Ireland.

Rally Argentina boasts a storied history, having regularly featured on the WRC calendar since 1980, with only the 1995 and 2010 editions absent from the world championship.

Speaking at the Dakar Rally, former Rally Argentina competitor Sulayem revealed that the FIA is negotiating with promoters in Argentina and a 2023 return of the tough gravel event is not out of the question.

"Yes, we are negotiating," said the new FIA president when asked if Argentina could return to the WRC calendar in 2023.

"First of all, I drove in Argentina a few times so I have good memories there, in terms of accepting the motorsport, and also the results that I have, so it's always good memories.

Rally Argentina is famed for its watersplashes and tricky gravel roads

Rally Argentina is famed for its watersplashes and tricky gravel roads

Photo by: Motorsport Images

"Argentina is a big country. Argentina has a culture of motorsport and rallying in particular, more than that we have to have a more dialogue with the promoter, with the ASN, [which] is very important.

"We have to have stability, sustainability of the events. I'm studying the contracts, and when it comes to how many years we are having with the contracts, with the promoters.

"But if you bring the WRC to Argentina, it's not new. It has been there. So we just have to work something that has to come from itself, from the government, and the FIA and the promoter.

"So we'll see. Water doesn't go uphill, it goes downhill, so it has to come from the government. I believe the government has big history and involvement also with rallying and specifically rallying."

The WRC will begin its new Rally1 hybrid era later this month when the 2022 season begins at the famous Monte Carlo Rally from 20-23 January.

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation

Related video

Previous article What could have been: When a rally king's Le Mans debut was scuppered
Next article Tanak confident Hyundai can “fight hard” in 2022 WRC

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe