After nine years of absence, the World Rally Championship (WRC) will return to the country
This has made it possible to recover events that previously faced difficulties and uncertainty due to the country's economic crisis, currency restrictions, and operational costs.
The FIA president had already anticipated his intention to recover international competitions in Argentina during a visit in September. After the agreement was confirmed, he highlighted the importance of the country for world motorsport.
This Thursday it was confirmed that Argentina will once again be part of the World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar in 2028.
The return of the highest international category of the specialty was made possible after efforts led by President Javier Milei and a multi-year agreement between the championship promoter and the Government of Córdoba, which will allow the recovery of a historic competition for national motorsport.
The announcement marks the return of one of the most representative events on the world calendar, after nine years without activity in Argentine territory.
The last edition took place in 2019, while the race scheduled for 2020 had to be canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, the country has been out of the championship, during a period when Chile and Paraguay were the only South American representatives.
The recovery of the date was made possible through negotiations with international authorities and the support of the national and provincial administration.
In that process, Javier Milei held direct talks with the president of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), Mohammed Ben Sulayem, with the aim of securing the return of a top-level competition to the country.
The agreement also includes the commitment from the Government of Córdoba to ensure the necessary funding to sustain the competition for several years. The province will thus welcome the main figures of the world rally again, in an event that represents a opportunity for tourism and economic activity.
In parallel, the reforms promoted by Milei's government have established conditions of greater predictability, trust, and economic openness for investments and the development of international activities.
"Argentina is a country that has motorsport in its blood, with passionate fans and extraordinary terrains. It has an incredible history in rallying, and I have very special personal memories of my participations in Córdoba," said Ben Sulayem.
The leader also recalled his commitment to the return of international competitions: "When I visited Argentina earlier this year, I reiterated my commitment to bring top-level competitions back to the country, and I am proud to announce the first step to make that vision a reality."
Additionally, he linked the Argentine return with the new commercial phase of the championship. "After the historic Agreement of the Century and our alliance with the new WRC promoter, the championship is entering a new era, with greater investments and a clear vision to drive its continuous growth worldwide," he stated.
Finally, he asserted that "ensuring the return to Argentina will not only generate enormous excitement among fans but will also allow us to take advantage of the global momentum of our sport."
For the 2028 edition, the project includes the creation of a WRC Arena around the Mario Alberto Kempes Stadium. The space will concentrate the service park and activities aimed at the public, with the purpose of modernizing the organization and the spectator experience.
With the multi-year agreement and national and provincial efforts, Argentina has secured the return of a competition that has been part of its calendar for decades. The return of the World Rally in 2028 also represents the recovery of a historic venue for international motorsport.
