{
  "id": 8195528,
  "title": "WRC final round moved from Saudi Arabia to Italy amid Middle East unrest",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/wrc-final-round-moved-from-saudi-arabia-to-italy-amid-middle-east-8195528",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-18T06:26:31.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/sport/2026/09/18/wrc-final-round-moved-from-saudi-arabia-to-italy-amid-middle-east-unrest/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The concluding round of the 2026 World Rally Championship (WRC) has been relocated from Saudi Arabia to Italy due to ongoing unrest and instability in the Middle East. Originally set to conclude in Jeddah from November 11-14, the WRC will instead end with the Rally Italia in Sardinia from October 1-4. The Saudi event will still occur on its set dates but will be part of the Middle East Rally Championship, not the WRC calendar. Rally Saudi Arabia's FIA president Mohammed ben Sulayem stated that the team explored all options to keep the rally as a WRC round but cited \"ongoing uncertainty in the region and its impact on logistical arrangements\" as reasons for the decision. Despite the change, the FIA maintains confidence in the rally's future, with plans to resume the WRC event in 2027. This adjustment increases uncertainty for the championship, currently led by Great Britain's Elfyn Evans, who is trailing Finland's Sami Pajari by 17 points with 35 points remaining in Sardinia. The decision comes amidst broader regional conflicts, including the Israel-Gaza war, Israeli-US-Iran tensions, and Saudi Arabia's ongoing conflict with Houthi rebels in Yemen. Motor sport has faced schedule changes this year, with the Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Formula One races cancelled in April, while the Qatar and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix remain on the calendar.",
  "summary": "The final round of the 2026 World Rally Championship has been moved from Saudi Arabia to Italy because of continuing unrest and uncertainty in the Middle East, with the season shortened to 13 rounds. Rally Saudi Arabia had been scheduled to bring the championship to a conclusion in Jeddah from November 11-14, but the FIA has confirmed the WRC will instead finish with Rally Italia in Sardinia from…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Island Sri Lanka",
        "title": "Trump administration approves sale of F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/trump-administration-approves-sale-of-f-35-jets-to-saudi-arabia",
        "published": "2026-09-18T03:07:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "WRC final round moved from Saudi Arabia to Italy amid Middle East unrest",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/wrc-final-round-moved-from-saudi-arabia-to-italy-amid-middle-east",
        "published": "2026-09-18T06:26:31.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "US approves $24.3bn sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/us-approves-24-3bn-sale-of-48-f-35-jets-to-saudi-arabia",
        "published": "2026-09-18T06:53:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}