Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Vehicle (FIA), says Paraguay’s debut within the FIA World Rally Championship this weekend and the season finale in Saudi Arabia level the best way in direction of an thrilling new period for rallying on the highest degree.
Ben Sulayem was current on the FIA’s ceremonial opening on Friday night time of the inaugural FIA WRC Rally del Paraguay 2025, together with the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña.
Going down in Encarnación, within the Itapúa area, the nation’s maiden look on the WRC calendar marks a historic second for Paraguayan motorsport, constructing on a united ardour for racing and wealthy rally heritage.
With the brand new WRC Rally Saudi Arabia rounding off the 2025 season in November, and the method to safe a brand new WRC business rights holder below means, Ben Sulayem believes the championship will proceed to develop and attain new heights.
Talking on the opening ceremony, the FIA President mentioned: “This can be a historic second for Paraguay, for South America, and for international motorsport. Over the approaching days the eyes of the world will probably be on Encarnación, and on Paraguay. That’s the energy of motorsport, of collaboration, and of the FIA.
“There isn’t any doubt: Paraguay has a profound love for motorsport. Right here, rallying is greater than a sport. It’s a part of the nationwide id. It’s a ardour constructed on resilience, braveness, and dedication.
“The FIA WRC is getting into an thrilling new period. With one other new occasion to comply with in Saudi Arabia, hundreds of thousands of followers worldwide following the motion, and youthful audiences driving international development, the championship is able to rise to the following degree.”
Added Ben Sulayem:“Thanks, President Peña to your heat welcome, your beneficiant hospitality, and your true friendship. Your management and assist for this sport we love has made this second potential.
“Thanks to the Touring y Automóvil Membership Paraguayo. Your work displays the very values of the FIA. Thanks to the drivers, the groups, the organiser – Comite Olimpico Paraguayo, the officers, the volunteers, and to all of the rally followers. With out you none of this might be potential.”
With the ceremonial opening accomplished, the FIA WRC Rally del Paraguay moved onto its multi-stage competitors, with drivers dealing with a mixture of easy red-earth levels and trickier technical sections by means of dense vegetation.
Earlier this month the FIA, the governing physique for world motorsport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, introduced {that a} tender course of will probably be run for a brand new business rights holder of the FIA WRC.
It adopted an intensive interval of discussions by the FIA with Purple Bull and KW25, the present business rights holders, who’ve taken the choice to start the method.
The FIA World Rally Championship has seen a surge in recognition lately, attracting a cumulative tv viewers of 1.3bn and greater than 4 million on-site guests in 2024.