The Americas return to the World Rally Championship next season, with Rally México and Rally Chile featuring on a 13-round calendar ratified by the FIA on Friday.
The Central Europe Rally – a tri-nation event running a day each in Germany, Austria and Czech Republic – is another highlight for the 2023 schedule. That all-asphalt October event, based east of Munich close to the border with Austria and Czech Republic, replaces Rally Spain.
Ypres Rally Belgium and Rally New Zealand are the other casualties from this year. The Auckland-based event is widely expected to return in 2024.
Rally México fell victim to a shipping schedule still being impacted by COVID in March this season. With logistics being planned for the start of this season late in 2021, the global pandemic remained a concern – hence the eight-week gap between Sweden and Croatia.
North America’s return fills that gap with a traditional Guanajuato route based out of an all-new purpose-built service park in Leon.
Heading south to the Andes for a southern hemisphere spring, the WRC’s back in Conception for the first time since 2019 at Rally Chile.
With Monte Carlo and Sweden running as rounds one and two, 2023 starts with an entirely familiar feel. Both events had been confirmed ahead of Friday’s confirmation of a World Motor Sport Council electronic vote.
Portugal, Sardinia and Kenya all run in similar slots to this season, while Estonia moves back a week in July. Finland and Greece are unchanged, date wise and Japan closes the year out a week later than this month.
The Junior WRC offers the perfect mix of all surfaces, including snow, asphalt, fast and slow gravel. JWRC runs in Sweden, Croatia, Italy, Estonia and Greece
2023 WRC calendar
Monte Carlo Rally January 19-22
Rally Sweden February 9-12
Rally México March 16-19
Croatia Rally April 20-23
Rally Portugal May 11-14
Rally Italy June 1-4
Safari Rally Kenya June 22-25
Rally Estonia July 20-23
Rally Finland August 3-6
Acropolis Rally Greece September 7-10
Rally Chile September 28-October 1
Central European Rally October 26-29
Rally Japan November 16-19
