Mohammed Ben Sulayem, President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), says Paraguay’s debut in the FIA World Rally Championship this weekend, along with the season finale in Saudi Arabia, points the way towards an exciting new era for rallying at the highest level.
Ben Sulayem was present at the FIA’s ceremonial opening on Friday night of the inaugural FIA WRC Rally del Paraguay 2025, along with the President of Paraguay, Santiago Peña.
Taking place in Encarnación, in the Itapúa region, the country’s maiden appearance on the WRC calendar marks a historic moment for Paraguayan motorsport, building on a united passion for racing and rich rally heritage.
With the new WRC Rally Saudi Arabia rounding off the 2025 season in November, and the process to secure a new WRC commercial rights holder underway, Ben Sulayem believes the championship will continue to grow and reach new heights.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, the FIA President said: “This is a historic moment for Paraguay, for South America, and for global motorsport. Over the coming days, the eyes of the world will be on Encarnación and on Paraguay. That is the power of motorsport, of collaboration, and of the FIA.
“There is no doubt: Paraguay has a profound love for motorsport. Here, rallying is more than a sport. It is part of the national identity. It is a passion built on resilience, courage, and dedication.
“The FIA WRC is entering an exciting new era. With another new event to follow in Saudi Arabia, millions of fans worldwide following the action, and younger audiences driving global growth, the championship is ready to rise to the next level.”
Added Ben Sulayem: “Thank you, President Peña, for your warm welcome, your generous hospitality, and your genuine friendship. Your leadership and support for this sport we love have made this moment possible.
“Thank you to the Touring y Automóvil Club Paraguayo. Your work reflects the very values of the FIA. Thank you to the drivers, the teams, the organiser – Comité Olímpico Paraguayo, the officials, the volunteers, and to all the rally fans. Without you, none of this would be possible.”
With the ceremonial opening completed, the FIA WRC Rally del Paraguay moved onto its multi-stage competition, with drivers facing a mix of smooth red-earth stages and trickier technical sections through dense vegetation.
Earlier this month, the FIA, the governing body for world motorsport and the federation for mobility organisations worldwide, announced that a tender process would be run for a new commercial rights holder of the FIA WRC.
It followed an extensive period of discussions by the FIA with Red Bull and KW25, the current commercial rights holders, who have made the decision to commence the process.
The FIA World Rally Championship has experienced a surge in popularity in recent years, attracting a cumulative television audience of 1.3 billion and more than 4 million on-site visitors in 2024.
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