Croatia will return to the World Rally Championship calendar in 2026 after securing a brand new multi-year settlement.
The asphalt occasion made its WRC debut in 2021, shortly changing into an everyday internet hosting 4 editions of the occasion, earlier than shedding its place on the 2025 calendar.
The WRC Promoter was in discussions to resume its settlement, with a three-year deal on the desk starting from 2025, however organisers have been unable to safe the assist and ensures from the native authorities.
Nonetheless, authorities assist has since been sourced so as to strike a brand new three-year deal. The settlement will see the occasion host a spherical of the European Rally Championship subsequent 12 months adopted by a return to the WRC for 2026 and 2027.
“When Croatia Rally joined the WRC in 2021, we knew it will grow to be an instantaneous traditional, and it hasn’t dissatisfied in every of the final 4 editions,” mentioned WRC occasion director Simon Larkin.
“We’re delighted to proceed this journey for the following three years throughout each our championships. It is going to undoubtedly add a brand new sporting problem to the ERC, and we expect it would attraction to not simply our common ERC opponents, however probably some WRC groups as nicely.
“We’d prefer to thank the Croatian Authorities in any respect ranges – led by Sports activities Minister Tonci Glavina – in addition to Daniel Saskin, the President of the Organising Committee, for his or her unwavering assist of this venture.”
Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Workforce Hyundai i20 N Rally1
Picture by: Purple Bull Content material Pool
Saskin added: “With the assist of the Croatian authorities and our companions, Croatia will host the ERC subsequent 12 months and welcome the WRC again in subsequent years.
“I additionally thank WRC Promoter for recognising the standard of our organisation and selecting to proceed internet hosting these motorsport competitions in Croatia. By means of our expertise and profitable organisation, we proceed to place Croatia as a motorsport hub.”
Croatia’s inclusion on the 2026 WRC calendar ensures there shall be at the least 4 asphalt rounds on the schedule, becoming a member of Monte Carlo, Canary Islands and Japan, the latter having signed a brand new three-year deal final month.
The WRC has indicated that it wish to add a fifth asphalt spherical to its 2026 calendar, with Eire among the many candidates hoping to fill that berth.