WRC RETURNS TO NEW ZEALAND IN 2022
The World Rally Championship will return to New Zealand next year following the release of the 13 round calendar for 2022.
After securing a spot on the 2020 schedule prior to the pandemic forcing a number of changes, Rally New Zealand will finally make its long-awaited return to the WRC after a 10-year absence.
The first WRC hybrid-era calendar was released following a meeting of the World Motor Sport Council overnight. With 2022 to see events return to New Zealand and Japan as the championship returns to a more global presence following two seasons run almost exclusively on Europe.
“Next year will be a momentous and thrilling one for the FIA World Rally Championship as we welcome the new hybrid era Rally1 cars, part of a portfolio of regulations to drive the series towards a greener and more sustainable future,” said Jona Siebel, WRC Promoter Managing Director.
“Next year also marks the WRC’s 50th season and we have a calendar to match. We’re delighted to welcome back New Zealand, a rally which first appeared in 1977.”
“Its gravel roads are a drivers’ delight and although our plans to return in 2020 were unfortunately derailed by Covid-19, it’s fantastic we can now push through with those.”
“The pandemic sadly brought the globe to its knees but as the world recovers so, too, does the WRC.”
“We previously outlined our strategy for an equal spread of rallies between Europe and long-haul destinations and the 2022 calendar is a significant step towards that goal.”
The season will get underway, as is tradition in January, with the Rallye Monte-Carlo in the French Alps.
WRC competition will then see the new Rally1 hybrid cars tested on snow, tarmac and gravel roads across Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Pacific with Japan to host the final round in November.
One event is still currently listed as TBC. The tarmac event in August is likely to be run in Northern Ireland, however a number of options do remain in contention.
World Rally Championship 2022 Schedule
| Date | Event | Surface |
| 23 January | Monte-Carlo | Mixed |
| 27 February | Sweden | Snow |
| 24 April | Croatia** | Tarmac |
| 22 May | Portugal | Gravel |
| 5 June | Italy | Gravel |
| 26 June | Kenya | Gravel |
| 17 July | Estonia | Gravel |
| 7 August | Finland | Gravel |
| 21 August | TBC | Tarmac |
| 11 September | Greece | Gravel |
| 2 October | New Zealand* | Gravel |
| 23 October | Spain | Tarmac |
| 13 November | Japan | Tarmac |
*subject to Event Promotion Agreement
**subject to ASN Agreement
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