The Automóvel Club de Portugal's event remains the only round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) held in Europe. The 2025 season, revealed today, will also feature events in the Dakar, Abu Dhabi, South Africa, and Morocco.
The drivers, riders and machines of the Dakar will return to Portugal from September 22 to 28 next year for the second edition of the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal.
Today, the FIA, FIM, and ASO, the promoter of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), confirmed the 2025 calendar, with the Automóvel Club de Portugal’s event joining the Dakar in Saudi Arabia, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the South African Safari Rally (an entirely new addition), and the Rallye du Maroc, which will close the championship in October. These five events span across three continents, with the Portuguese event being the only one held in Europe, as was the case this year.
The inaugural bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal was held in April, covering over 1,700 kilometers of trails through the Alentejo, Ribatejo, and Spanish Extremadura. The reigning World Champion, Nasser Al-Attiyah (cars), and Spain’s Tosha Schairena (motorcycles) claimed victory in the first edition, which attracted thousands of spectators to the base of the event in Grândola and to the various stages held in both Portugal and Spain.
Carlos Barbosa, President of the Automóvel Club de Portugal: "The continuation of the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal in the World Rally-Raid Championship demonstrates the excellence of our sporting organizations. After the success of the first edition, the only one in Europe, praised by everyone—drivers, teams, federations, and promoter—we want to repeat and improve the formula in 2025 to provide another great spectacle for the millions of fans who follow us around the world and, once again, contribute to Portugal’s appeal as a destination."
David Castera, Motor Sports Director at Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO, the promoter of the FIA-FIM World Rally-Raid Championship), stated: "It will soon be three years since the launch of the championship. Our first priority was consolidating a set of races that are now well differentiated. The BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal is returning after its debut last season, just like the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF Infinia before it. The absence of Argentina from the 2025 calendar doesn't mean this race no longer has a place in the W2RC. In fact, what we want is to rotate these events. That's what we'll start doing next season."
W2RC 2025 Calendar
Dakar (Saudi Arabia): January 3–17
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge: February 21–27
South African Safari Rally: May 18–24
bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal: September 22–28
Rallye du Maroc: October 10–1
Source: ACP Motorsport
Photo: ImagensDesportivas.pt / Rally-Raid Network
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