Indonesia declares interest to make WRC return

Indonesia has formally declared its curiosity in internet hosting a spherical of the World Rally Championship within the close to future.

The WRC Promoter met with the Indonesian Minister for Sport and Youth, Dito Ariotedjo, within the nation’s capital metropolis Jakarta this week to debate the potential of Indonesia making a return to the WRC for the primary time since 1997.

A Heads of Settlement for Indonesia to hitch the WRC sooner or later was signed by the Indonesian authorities and WRC occasion director Simon Larkin. Additional discussions will probably be held between each events, with an occasion in 2026 considered among the many potential choices.    

Indonesia has a wealthy historical past in rallying, having beforehand hosted the WRC in 1996 and 1997. Each editions have been received by Carlos Sainz, driving a Ford Escort.

Rally Indonesia continues to be a daily fixture within the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship.     

Indonesia’s international motorsport footprint has been growing in recent times, with the nation welcoming again MotoGP in 2022 on the Mandalika circuit, whereas Formulation E made its debut in Jakarta, additionally in 2022, and can rejoin the collection’ calendar in 2025 after sitting out 2024.

“WRC Promoter was in Jakarta to satisfy with the Indonesian Minister for Sport and Youth Dito Ariotedjo in addition to many different governmental representatives to debate the way forward for the WRC in Indonesia,” Larkin mentioned in a press release despatched to Autosport.

“That is the fruits of plenty of arduous work involving the Indonesian ASN, the IMI [Ikatan Motor Indonesia] – who have been the hosts for the go to.

“A great deal of progress was made, and all events have agreed in a Heads of Settlement to proceed in the direction of the last word ambition of the WRC Rally Indonesia becoming a member of the WRC calendar within the close to future. Additional discussions and negotiations will proceed instantly amongst all events.”

The WRC has expanded its calendar to 14 rounds for this year, bolstered by new occasions in Paraguay and Saudi Arabia, whereas the Canary Islands makes its debut having stepped up from the European Rally Championship.

A number of nations seem like in the running to join the WRC schedule in 2026.

A highly-anticipated return to the USA for the primary time since 1988 is among the many WRC’s key targets for subsequent 12 months, whereas Croatia, Eire and Scotland are looking for a return to calendar.