World Rally Championship calendar revealed for 2022 season

The 2022 calendar is set to consist of thireen rounds, although up until today only nine of those had been ratified and made known.

However, the latest FIA circular confirms the inclusion of New Zealand, Croatia and Finland alongside Monte Carlo, Sweden, Portugal, Italy, Kenya, Estonia, Greece, Spain and Japan.

The calendar was approved at the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris earlier today, with the WRC’s Promoter managing director saying he was excited by the schedule agreed for the competition’s fiftieth anniversary season.

“Next year will be a momentous and thrilling one for the FIA World Rally Championship as we welcome the new hybrid era Rally1 cars, part of a portfolio of regulations to drive the series towards a greener and more sustainable future,” said Jona Siebel.

“Next year also marks the WRC’s fiftieth season and we have a calendar to match. We’re delighted to welcome back New Zealand, a rally which first appeared in 1977.

“Its gravel roads are a drivers’ delight and although our plans to return in 2020 were unfortunately derailed by Covid-19, it’s fantastic we can now push through with those.

“The pandemic sadly brought the globe to its knees but as the world recovers so, too, does the WRC,” he added.

“We previously outlined our strategy for an equal spread of rallies between Europe and long-haul destinations and the 2022 calendar is a significant step towards that goal.”

One slot remains to be filled, with a 'TBC' filling the date of August 18-21. However, hope remains that this will go to Northern Ireland as WRC promoters have spoken openly about wanting the country to host the British round of the championship next year.

From 2023 and beyond, the World Motor Sport Council has pledged to "return to a more global presence beyond Europe" once "the situation [around COVID-19] eases".

Meanwhile, the Junior World Rally Championship is set to move away from front-driven Fiestas to four-wheel-drive Rally3 versions of the same car in 2022.

The overall winner will receive four "arrive and drive" rallies on European World Rally Championship events as well as a Monday test before each event.

Promoters said if the JWRC champion can raise the "supplementary budget", two additional rounds will be available and includes a pre-event test.

"This is the biggest and most exciting change for Junior WRC in the entire history of the championship," said JWRC Championship Manager, Maciej Woda.