The World Rally Championship’s future in South America looks stronger than ever with Chile and Argentina likely to land long-term agreements to keep the championship there until 2027.
Last week was the first of a two-year deal for Chile, with the WRC heading back to Concepción in 2024. Event boss Felipe Horta is already working with WRC Promoter to extend that for a further three years.
Horta told DirtFish: “We are talking to the government for the region and they are saying to me: ‘Come on Felipe, what about 2025, ’26 and ’27?’ I think we can do this.”
Horta talked of his pride in an event he has driven forwards from the outset.
“The feeling is gratitude and for being very happy,” he said. “Our country is a little country in the south of the world and today Chile and the region spoke to the all of the world about the WRC.
“The stages in our country are probably the best and the people have incredible passion. Today I can have only gratitude and thank you God for our country.”
Horta was quick to recognize the need to work with its neighbor across the Andes. In 2019, the Rally Argentina and Chile ran consecutively, with Argentina preceding Chile by a fortnight. That’s what both he and WRC Promoter wants to see return.
“Argentina has 39 years in history [in the WRC],” said Horta. “I think the good combination is both countries – like before with Argentina first and then Chile after two weeks.
“For the fans, the teams, for everybody this would be perfect. Argentina is the most popular for rallying in the world.”
WRC Promoter rally director Simon Larkin agreed with Horta.
“We are intending to make it happen, very much so,” Larkin said. “We would like to run them back-to-back from 2025, with parallel three-year deals.”
Argentina’s last WRC inclusion was in 2019.
