A World Title Decided in Jeddah
Rally Saudi Arabia 2025 saw Sébastien Ogier secure his ninth FIA World Rally Championship title, equaling Sébastien Loeb’s record.
Rally Saudi Arabia
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Event Overview
Rally Saudi Arabia returns to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar for the second time in 2026, serving as the 14th and final round of the season. Based in Jeddah and the surrounding areas, the rally challenges competitors across a varied mix of rocky terrain and fast gravel roads.
As the season finale, Rally Saudi Arabia provides the stage for the championship titles to be decided and the season’s champions to be crowned. It also gives fans the opportunity to experience the conclusion of the WRC season against the distinctive landscapes of Saudi Arabia, combining world-class competition with the Kingdom’s unique natural setting.
About the FIA World Rally Championship
The FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) represents the highest level of international rallying, bringing together the world’s leading drivers and co-drivers across 14 rounds held in a wide range of environments, from gravel and dirt roads to snow and asphalt.
Success in the WRC demands precision, concentration, endurance, and seamless coordination between driver and co-driver as they tackle changing conditions and make split-second decisions throughout each rally. These demands make the championship one of the toughest and most technically challenging competitions in global motorsport.
With the title battle unfolding across the season, the final round can play a decisive role in determining the drivers’, co-drivers’, and manufacturers’ championships. In 2026, Saudi Arabia will host the WRC season finale for the second consecutive year.
Highlights from Previous Editions
Saudi Arabia Makes Its WRC Debut
Date: November 26–29, 2025
Location: Jeddah and surrounding areas
Key Stage Areas: Khulais, Asfan, Dhahban, Um Al Jaram, Al Ghulah, Wadi Al Matwi, and Thuwal
Participants: 82 drivers and co-drivers representing 25 nationalities across three categories
Total Distance: 1,218 km, including approximately 319 km of timed competitive stages
Winners: Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe – Hyundai
Highlights: The inaugural Rally Saudi Arabia saw Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe claim victory, while Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais secured the 2025 World Rally Championship titles. Ogier’s triumph marked his ninth world title, equaling Sébastien Loeb’s all-time record.
| Driver | Nationalities | Previous teams | 2026 Team | WRC championships | 2025 result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Sébastien OgierVincent Landais | FrenchFrench | Citroën Junior Team, Volkswagen Motorsport, M-Sport Ford and Citroën Racing | Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team | Ogier 9; Landais 1 | World champions, first with 293 points |
 Thierry NeuvilleMartijn Wydaeghe | BelgianBelgian | Citroën Junior World Rally Team, Qatar World Rally Team and M-Sport Ford | Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team | Neuville 1; Wydaeghe 1 | Fifth with 194 points; winners of Rally Saudi Arabia |
 Elfyn EvansScott Martin | BritishBritish | M-Sport Ford World Rally Team | Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team | — | Second with 289 points |
 Sami PajariMarko Salminen | FinnishFinnish | Printsport and Toksport WRT | Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2 | Pajari won Junior WRC in 2021 and WRC2 in 2024 | Eighth with 107 points |
 Oliver SolbergElliott Edmondson | SwedishBritish | Hyundai Motorsport, Toksport WRT and Printsport | Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2 | — | Ninth with 71 points; winners of Rally Estonia |
| Adrien FourmauxAlexandre Coria | FrenchFrench | M-Sport Ford World Rally Team | Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team | — | Seventh with 115 points; second at Rally Saudi Arabia |
 Takamoto Katsuta Aaron Johnston | JapaneseIrish | Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC Challenge Programme and Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Next Generation | Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team | — | Sixth with 122 points |
 Hayden PaddonJohn Kennard | New ZealanderNew Zealander | New Zealand World Rally Team and Hyundai Motorsport | Hyundai Motorsport | — | Did not contest the WRC season |
| Josh McErleanEoin Treacy | IrishIrish | Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy and Hyundai Motorsport customer programmes | M-Sport Ford World Rally Team | — | 11th with 28 points |
| Esapekka LappiEnni Mälkönen | FinnishFinnish | Škoda Motorsport, Toyota Gazoo Racing, Citroën Racing and M-Sport Ford | Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team | Lappi won WRC2 in 2016 | Did not contest the WRC season |
Key Facts
First Rally Saudi Arabia Winner
Thierry Neuville became the first driver to win Rally Saudi Arabia as a WRC event after claiming victory with Hyundai in the inaugural 2025 edition.
17 Stages in the Inaugural Edition
The first Rally Saudi Arabia in 2025 featured 17 competitive stages covering approximately 319 km.
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