The W2RC has unveiled its 2024 calendar, featuring 5 races held on 4 continents in season 3 of the FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship. The programme for next year shuffles the deck without straying too far from the formula of the two previous seasons. In addition to classics such as the Dakar, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and the Rallye du Maroc, the Desafío Ruta 40 is returning for the second year in a row and, as in 2022, there will be a European round, namely, the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Transibérico through Portugal and Spain. Following the 46th Dakar in Saudi Arabia and the ADDC in the Emirates, the W2RC caravan will leave Asia for Europe before moving on to Latin America. After the summer break, Africa, the cradle of the sport, will crown the victors in the traditional finale in Morocco.
David Castera, Motor Sports Director at Amaury Sport Organisation (A.S.O., the promoter of the FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship), said:
"Season 3 of the W2RC is already starting to take shape on the January 2024 horizon. The constant growth of the field this year shows just how successful this format has become. The 2024 calendar will follow the same recipe, which blends tradition, continuity and innovation. Apart from the three major events of the sport, the theme of the current season has been the exploration of the Americas. This will continue next season, when the Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina, which is coming back from its hiatus this year, returns for a new edition. Mirroring its inaugural campaign, the W2RC will head to Europe, this time for the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Transibérico, a geographically closer and less expensive gateway to the sport for competitors, teams and fans from this continent, which remains the leading incubator of rally raids. This new event will make an impact in more ways than one because it runs through Portugal and Spain, two countries that stand out for their motor sports know-how and tradition. This time more than ever, the calendar will be a hit with rookies and veterans alike.”
Mohammed Ben Sulayem, FIA President, stated:
“The A.S.O. and the FIA have been working hard behind the scenes to continue to improve the appeal of the FIA World Rally-Raid Championship. Cross-country rallying is one of the fastest growing sporting disciplines under the FIA umbrella and we are delighted to see how the W2RC has attained a global reach in such a short space of time. As the founder of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in 1991, I am delighted that it is an integral part of the W2RC, having been an ever present in the FIA cross-country calendar since 1993. It’s also pleasing to see a new event introduced into the calendar. Portugal and Spain have a strong culture and extended practice of cross-country rallying and the new event will enable spectators in this region to see the best in the world in action on their doorstep.”
Jorge Viegas, FIM President, added:
“The growing popularity of the W2RC is reflected by this great calendar for 2024, with next year’s championship spread across four continents including a return to Europe and an important stop in Argentina. This is a country that has hosted the Dakar and FIM World Championship events in the past and will provide stability for the series in Latin America. Together with championship promoter A.S.O. we are continuing to work closely to improve safety in what is an extremely demanding discipline. I am also proud of the continued collaboration between the FIM and FIA on various shared matters, which will bring ongoing benefits to all concerned. On behalf of the FIM I would like to thank A.S.O. along with all the other parties involved in preparing the 2024 schedule of events.”
