WRC Drops Saudi Round, 2026 Final Moves to Italy

WRC Drops Saudi Arabia Round, 2026 Season Finale Moves to Italy

The FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) is the premier international rally series organised by the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), featuring manufacturer teams such as Toyota and Hyundai competing on gravel, tarmac, and snow stages worldwide. In September 2026, the WRC cancelled its scheduled round in Saudi Arabia due to escalating conflict in the Middle East, shifting the season finale to Rally Italia Sardegna in early October. For Malaysian motorsport fans following the championship via regional broadcasters or streaming platforms, this decision reshapes the 2026 calendar and raises questions about the future of Middle Eastern rounds in international racing.

**Malaysian audiences can expect the 2026 WRC season to conclude in Italy, with no substitute event replacing the cancelled Saudi Arabia round.**

Key Facts

Why Did WRC Cancel the Saudi Arabia Round?

The cancellation stems from the active conflict in the Middle East, which made travel for team personnel and logistics operations unsafe. According to a Jalopnik report, Toyota and Hyundai jointly sent a letter to the FIA in early September 2026 informing the governing body that they could not travel to Saudi Arabia due to corporate travel restrictions imposed on business trips to Middle Eastern countries.

FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem issued the following statement:

"Bagaimanapun, perkembangan semasa di rantau itu menyebabkan acara WRC di Rally Saudi Arabia tidak dapat diteruskan pada tahun ini. Keputusan seperti ini tidak pernah mudah, terutama selepas usaha besar dilakukan oleh semua pihak yang terbabit dalam persiapan acara tersebut."

- Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President, FIA (translated)

**The decision to cancel the WRC's Saudi Arabian round was driven by safety concerns and manufacturer travel bans, not by organisational failures within the rally itself.**

What Is the New 2026 Season Finale?

With the cancellation of Rally Saudi Arabia, the 2026 WRC season will now conclude at Rally Italia Sardegna, originally scheduled for early October. This Italian gravel event becomes the championship-closing round, replacing the planned Middle Eastern finale. The change mirrors the WRC's previous practice of ending seasons in Europe, and follows the pattern observed in 2026 for other FIA world championships.

Rally Italia Sardegna has been a mainstay of the WRC calendar since 2004, known for its narrow, dusty stages and high temperatures. For Malaysian viewers, the event will be broadcast in a time zone closer to Malaysia (six to seven hours behind, depending on season), but the shift from a November date to early October means the season finishes earlier than initially planned.

**The 2026 WRC title will be decided at Rally Italia Sardegna in October, not in Saudi Arabia as originally scheduled.**

How Does This Affect Formula 1's Final Races?

The cancellation of the WRC's Saudi round has raised concerns about the remaining 2026 Formula 1 events in the Middle East. The Qatar Grand Prix is scheduled for 29 November and the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on 6 December. Reuters reported that race organisers may wait until October before deciding whether these races need to be cancelled or relocated. If they cannot proceed, F1 may follow the WRC's approach by moving the season finale to Italy, with the Imola circuit cited as a potential replacement venue.

While no official decision has been made as of 19 September 2026, the precedent set by the WRC and the parallel moves by the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) suggest that the sport is bracing for a European-only conclusion to the 2026 racing season.

**Formula 1's season finale could move from Abu Dhabi to Imola if Middle East races are cancelled, a decision expected by October 2026.**

What Does This Mean for Malaysian Motorsport Fans?

Malaysian fans who follow the WRC, F1, or WEC via international feeds or regional broadcast partners such as Astro and streaming services will experience a condensed and altered calendar. The early finish of the WRC season to October may shift viewing schedules and create a gap in live motorsport coverage for Malaysian audiences. Additionally, the cancellation of Middle Eastern rounds reduces the number of night races (Qatar and Abu Dhabi) typically held in time zones that are easier to view in the evening (Malaysia time is UTC+8, while the Middle East is UTC+3/4, a five-hour difference).

For casual fans, the main takeaway is that the 2026 motorsport championships—WRC, F1, and WEC—are all retreating to European venues due to regional instability. This may affect the availability of live broadcasts in Malaysia, as European rounds generally air in early evening or morning local time, requiring adjusted viewing habits.

**Malaysian fans should expect fewer Middle Eastern night races in 2026 and may need to adjust to European daytime event timing for season finales.**

Common Questions

Will the Saudi Arabian rally still take place?

Yes. Despite being removed from the WRC calendar, Rally Saudi Arabia will still be held as a round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship, according to an official statement from FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. The event is not cancelled entirely, just stripped of its WRC status.

When is the new WRC season finale in 2026?

Rally Italia Sardegna, scheduled for early October, becomes the final WRC round of 2026. This replaces the originally planned November finale in Saudi Arabia. The date shift brings the championship conclusion nearly a month earlier than initially planned.

How does this affect Formula 1's Qatar and Abu Dhabi races?

As of the article date (19 September 2026), the F1 races in Qatar and Abu Dhabi remain on the calendar. However, organisers may decide by October whether to cancel or relocate them, with Imola in Italy as a potential replacement venue. The WEC has already moved its last two rounds from the region to Europe.

Sources and Methodology

This article is based on a single primary source: the original Malay-language report published by Careta.my on 19 September 2026, titled "WRC Batal Pusingan Arab Saudi, Musim 2026 Berakhir Di Itali," written by Qalif Latif. Facts and figures were translated from Malay to English (British spelling) while preserving all proper nouns and official names. No currency conversions were required. Where the source references external reports (Jalopnik, Reuters), those attributions are preserved. This article was last updated on 19 September 2026. No Malaysian-specific verification was performed as the content concerns international motorsport governance, and no local distributor or certification applies.