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World Rally Championship (WRC) season will continue with a stage in Estonia, becoming the 33rd country to host the prestigious race, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said on Thursday.
It has already been reported that the Estonian government is ready to support the organization of the World Rally Championship (WRC) stage in the country with 2.5 million euros to take place during the Estonian Rally.
On Thursday, it became known that the previous efforts of the Estonians had paid off. The rally in the northern neighborhood on September 4-6 will start the continuation of the season. Estonia has thus become the 33rd country to host the WRC since 1973.
Estonian Prime Minister Jiri Ratas and WRC leader Oliver Sisla informed local and international fans about the encouraging news in Tallinn.
“I am pleased to announce that after several months of efforts, all parties involved have been able to agree on a calendar for the season, which could still change,” said FIA Rally Director Yves Matthon. “Thanks to the persistent work of the organizers, I am sure that there will be at least eight stages this season.”
“The Estonian Rally will mark the continuation of the season, and I know that the Estonian Motorsport Association has made great efforts to ensure that the stage in the country takes place to the highest WRC standards.”
For last year’s champion Otta Tenak, this will be a great opportunity to delight the local audience in person.
Competition tests and the opening ceremony are planned for Friday, but the race in a shorter format will take place on Saturday and Sunday. It is planned that the competition will take place in the vicinity of Tartu, but the team service will be located in the Estonian National Museum.
The WRC championship season was suspended after three stages, but the Sardinian stage, which was previously postponed to June, is now scheduled for October 29 to November 1.
After the stage in Estonia, the race will continue in Turkey (September 24-27), Germany (October 15-18), Italy (October 29 – November 1), but the end of the season is scheduled for November 19-22 in Japan.
However, there is a possibility that the race will also take place in Belgium on October 2-4, while the stage will be decided in Croatia.
It also became known that the Argentine rally stage, which gathers almost a million fans every year, will not take place this year. The stage on the South American continent was scheduled for April.
Previously abolished in Portugal, Kenya, Finland, New Zealand and Wales.
The FIA also indicated that the WRC Junior Championship calendar will be known shortly.
According to the FIA, seven stages of the season must be completed in order to receive the title. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, three races were completed, forcing the FIA to consider alternatives.
It has already been announced that the Latvian stage of the European Rally Championship (ERC) “Rally Liepāja” will not be included in the WRC calendar.
Less than three weeks ago, the WRC organizers and RA Events started negotiations on the possible inclusion of the Liepaja Rally in the 2020 season calendar.
Despite the interest of both parties and the support of the ERC organizer Eurosport Events in organizing a joint rally, RA Events will currently continue to work only on the organization of the second stage of the FIA European Rally Championship, which is scheduled for August 14-16.
Earlier, the deputies expressed support for this idea at the meeting of the Sports Subcommittee of the Saeima Education, Culture and Science Commission.
At the start of the season, from January to mid-March, three stages took place in Monte Carlo, Sweden and Mexico, led by Toyota’s French driver Sebastian Ogie.
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