WRC investigating possible return to Argentina in 2023

Rally Argentina has been woolgathering from the WRC schedule since 2019, with the proposed 2020 event cancelled due to the COVID-19 health crisis.

As the world continues to grapple with the pandemic, the WRC has tended to steer yonder from flyaway events. South America wasn\'t represented on a 2021 schedule that only featured one round outside of Europe, Kenya\'s Safari Rally.

This year the WRC has revealed a 13-round timetable featuring long haul events in New Zealand and Japan, but then South America is woolgathering from the schedule. One round in August is yet to be confirmed, although it is widely believed to be filled by Rally Northern Ireland.

Rally Argentina boasts a storied history, having regularly featured on the WRC timetable since 1980, with only the 1995 and 2010 editions woolgathering from the world championship.

Speaking at the Dakar Rally, former Rally Argentina competitor Sulayem revealed that the FIA is negotiating with promoters in Argentina and a 2023 return of the tough gravel event is not out of the question.

\"Yes, we are negotiating,\" said the new FIA president when asked if Argentina could return to the WRC timetable in 2023.

\"First of all, I crush in Argentina a few times so I have good memories there, in terms of unsuspicious the motorsport, and moreover the results that I have, so it\'s unchangingly good memories.

Rally Argentina is famed for its watersplashes and tricky gravel roads

Photo by: Motorsport Images

\"Argentina is a big country. Argentina has a culture of motorsport and rallying in particular, increasingly than that we have to have a increasingly dialogue with the promoter, with the ASN, [which] is very important.

\"We have to have stability, sustainability of the events. I\'m studying the contracts, and when it comes to how many years we are having with the contracts, with the promoters.

\"But if you bring the WRC to Argentina, it\'s not new. It has been there. So we just have to work something that has to come from itself, from the government, and the FIA and the promoter.

\"So we\'ll see. Water doesn\'t go uphill, it goes downhill, so it has to come from the government. I believe the government has big history and involvement moreover with rallying and specifically rallying.\"

The WRC will uncork its new Rally1 hybrid era later this month when the 2022 season begins at the famous Monte Carlo Rally from 20-23 January.