Paraguay will make its debut as the 38th host country of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2025. The announcement was made on Saturday evening in the capital city of Asunción by President Santiago Peña during the Ceremonial Start of Petrobras Rally Transchaco 2024, which is the third round of the Paraguayan national championship.
“Paraguay is big, and the world is in the process of discovering us. Hosting world-class events such as the WRC is yet another way to show the world our greatness,” expressed President Peña.
This landmark multi-year agreement fulfills the WRC Promoter’s longstanding ambition of returning to two annual events in South America.
Paraguay has a rich rallying history, with the sport flourishing in the heart of South America. Notable drivers include Gustavo Saba, who was a regular participant in the Argentinian rounds of the WRC throughout the 2010s. More recently, Fabrizio Zaldivar has become a prominent WRC2 competitor, and Diego Dominguez is among the favorites in the Junior WRC and WRC3 categories. Paraguayan drivers have also dominated the FIA CODASUR South American Rally Championship, winning the last 11 editions.
WRC Promoter’s commitment to sustainability played a significant role in Paraguay’s successful bid. Paraguay generates 100 percent of its grid electricity from sustainable resources, aligning with the WRC’s use of 100 percent fossil-free fuel for all competing cars.
“We have been in discussions with Paraguay for a number of years, and I am incredibly pleased to see this agreement come to fruition,” said WRC Senior Event Director Simon Larkin. “There is no questioning the nation’s passion for rallying, and we cannot wait to showcase Paraguay’s spectacular scenery to the world.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem also expressed his enthusiasm: “Welcoming Paraguay to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2025 is a fantastic opportunity for the series and all its stakeholders to explore new horizons. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to my friend Hugo R. Mersan Galli, Chairman of the Touring y Automóvil Club Paraguayo, and his team for their efforts in developing our sport, to the organizers of Rally Paraguay, and to President Santiago Peña for his invaluable support.”
The rally will be based out of the touristic southern city of Encarnacion on the Paraná River, expected to draw fans from across Argentina and the South American continent. The stages will take place throughout the Itapúa region, known for its red gravel roads running parallel to the picturesque Paraná River, which already hosts a round of the FIA CODASUR South American Rally Championship.
Exact dates for the event will be confirmed in due course, pending World Motor Sport Council approval.
Source: FIA/WRC
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