WRC SET FOR 2023 GLOBAL EXPANSION
Extra rally and more events under discussion by World championship chiefs
The World Rally Championship calendar will be bigger and more global under current plans for 2023.
Motorsport News understands that a 14-round schedule is being finalised with as many as six rounds taking place outside Europe.
Although the number of flyaway events is expected to fall to five, leaving nine rounds in Europe, it still represents an increase from this season when three overseas events – Kenya, New Zealand and Japan – are due to take place.
The global expansion is also in line with governing body the
FIA’s long-standing call for a calendar covering five continents.
Sources suggest Mexico is a firm favourite to return to the WRC for the first time since 2020 with Saudi Arabia set for its first appearance in accordance with an apparent desire by WRC Promoter to add a desert round to the schedule.
However, plans for a return to Chile – and a sixth round outside Europe – are unlikely to reach fruition.
The increase of non-European events will serve as a blow to efforts to bring the WRC back to the UK, which has been starved of World championship action since 2019.
A bid by Rally Northern Ireland failed due to funding issues and sources suggest a push for a 2023 date is unlikely.
Other European events could be under threat, including Belgium’s Ypres Rally, which again proved popular when it ran as part of the
WRC for the second time last weekend but has no deal to continue in the championship beyond this season.
According to sources, running more rallies outside Europe has received a mixed reaction from teams and tyre supplier Pirelli, with concerns over the hike in budget the main issue.
Of the rallies likely to remain, the Monte Carlo Rally’s inclusion is expected to be a formality after organisers revealed outline details of the event, which is scheduled to run from January 19-22. Croatia, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Portugal, Sardinia,
Spain and Sweden are also set to be included once again as the European rounds although there is interest from Corsica, Cyprus,
Czech Republic and the Latviabased Rally Liepaja.
In addition to Mexico and the mooted event in Saudi Arabia, Japan, Kenya and New Zealand are set to host the events away from Europe.
While the WRC is set to total 14 rounds, the European championship, which is also promoted by WRC Promoter, is expected to consist of nine events, one more than in 2022, albeit with no round in the United Kingdom or Ireland.
Confirmation of both calendars is expected at October’s meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council.