Cross Country – 2025 FIA World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC) and Baja Calendar Revealed
South Africa will participate in five rounds of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) next year. The FIA World and Middle East Baja Cup schedules and the expanded FIA Europe Baja Cup schedule have also been approved.
The five-round 2024 FIA World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) schedule submitted by series promoter Amaury Sport Organization (ASO) to the World Rally-Raid Championship Commission was approved by a global electronic vote on Wednesday 2 October. Motorsport Council.
In its fourth season, W2RC will once again challenge competitors in environments ranging from sandy and rocky deserts to mountainous terrain, maintaining its reputation as the pinnacle of cross-country motorsport.
Competitors will head to South Africa in May, an event that replaces Argentina’s Desafío Ruta 40 in June, visiting two existing events in the Middle East, a European round with stages in Portugal and Spain, and a return to traditional format. I plan to do it. The season finale took place at Rallye du Maroc in North Africa.
With the rescheduling of the European round BP Ultimate Rally-Raid from April to September, it is now possible for W2RC caravans to complete the entire championship using only sea freight. This change is an important step towards achieving more sustainable logistics, reducing environmental impact and reducing overall costs.
The FIA Baja Cup continues to grow
The World Motor Sport Council has also approved next year’s schedule submitted by the Road Sport Committee on behalf of the Cross-Country Rally Commission.
The FIA Baja Cup will return in 2025. The World Bahá Cup will host eight events, the Middle East Bahá Cup will consist of four rounds, and the European Bahá Cup will expand from five to nine rounds. All reflect the growing appeal of Baja-style cross-country. Race across various regions. Based on feedback from competitors, a new sporting format for the FIA Baja Cup will be proposed at the WMSC meeting on 17 October.
FIA President Mohamed Ben Sulayem He expressed his enthusiasm for the 2025 cross-country rally season. “The FIA World Rally-Raid Championship continues to set the standard for cross-country rallying and we are delighted to see its growing success in terms of competition and global presence. I’m glad to see South Africa on the calendar and look forward to following the action in the untamed landscapes Africa has to offer. The expansion of Baja Cups also highlights the growing attractiveness of the sector, especially in Europe. “The 2025 cross-country rally season will feature both seasoned competitors and new challengers showcasing the FIA’s innovative technology, all against the backdrop of some of the most spectacular environments on the planet.”
David Castera, Director of Motorsport at Amaury Sport Organization (ASO, promoter of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship) stated: “It will soon be three years since the W2RC Championship began. Our priority has now been to put together a series of well-differentiated races. The BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal returns after its debut last season, as did the Desafío Ruta. 40 Just because YPF Infinia is not included in the 2025 calendar does not mean that this race will no longer be eligible for the W2RC, in fact what we would like to see happen next season.”
2024 FIA Middle East Rally Championship Schedule Updated
On the regional rally front, the World Motor Sport Council has also approved an updated 2024 Middle East Rally Championship calendar following the cancellation of the Oman International Rally due to local circumstances.
