WRITING THE 5TH CHAPTER WITH 5 ROUNDS ACROSS 4 CONTINENTS
The traditional opener of the W2RC since 2022, the Dakar, will inaugurate the 2026 season too. The 48th edition of the legendary rally raid will set out to tame the tracks and deserts of Saudi Arabia from 3 to 17 January, in an odyssey that promises to keep fans on the edges of their seats. Next, the convoy will set course for Europe and the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal. The event, created specifically for the championship in 2024, made a terrific first impression and will be holding its third edition from 17 to 22 March. The sole European round on the calendar will mark the beginning of spring on the continent, set against the distinctive landscapes of Iberia.
The Desafío Ruta 40, part of the 2023 and 2024 W2RC series, is set to make a triumphant return in 2026. The charismatic South American community will flock to the eagerly anticipated thirteenth edition of the rally between 24 and 29 May. As the third round out of five, it will mark the transition from the first to the second half of the season.
As usual since the launch of the series in 2022, the 2026 W2RC will feature the Rallye du Maroc. From 28 September to 3 October, Morocco will set the field on the home straight of a season that will culminate in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge — for the first time! The Emirati round, which has traditionally come right after the Dakar, has been moved to a new slot between 22 and 27 November due to Ramadan falling in February and March. The ADDC will become the third event to serve as the finale, after the Andalucía Rally (2022) and Rallye du Maroc (2023 through 2025).
Calendar
• Dakar (KSA) : 03/01/2026 > 17/01/2026
• bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal (POR) : 17/03/2026 > 22/03/2026
• Desafío Ruta 40 (ARG) : 24/05/2026 > 29/05/2026
• Rallye du Maroc (MAR) : 28/09/2026 > 03/10/2026
• Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge (UAE) : 22/11/2026 > 27/11/2026
FIA points scale
The standings will change according to the results of each stage and the overall outcome. The points awarded for stages will not be added to the tally unless the riders, drivers or crews remain in the race until the finish. However, competitors will be allowed to start a stage (and, therefore, to earn points) even if they have failed to complete the previous one, albeit with a heavy time penalty
Marathon events
- General standings, points awarded to the top 15 competitors: (50, 40, 30, 26, 23, 20, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 6, 5, 4), then 4 points for competitors finishing from the 16th position, and 2 points for not classified competitors
- Stage classification, points awarded to the top 5 competitors: (5, 4, 3, 2 and 1).
- Power selective section classification, points awarded to the top 3 competitors: (3, 2, 1).
Rally events
- General standings, points awarded to the top 15 competitors: (30, 25, 20, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 and 2), then 2 points for competitors finishing from the 16th position, and 1 point for not classified competitors.
- Stage classification, points awarded to the top 5 competitors: (5, 4, 3, 2 and 1).
Power selective section classification, points awarded to the top 3 competitors: (3, 2, 1).
Constructor classification
- Each constructor can field a maximum of three riders, drivers or crews in each event. Only the top two from each team will score points, which will be awarded following the above scale.
- Stage classification, points awarded to the top 5 manufacturers: (3, 2, 1).
FIM points scale
Due to the particularities of the motorbike race, most notably the hazards faced by riders, the FIM strongly emphasises consistency over raw speed. Therefore, points towards the world championship standings will be based entirely on the final general standings of each event. A coefficient will be applied to the points at stake according to the event format.
Scale of points
- General standings, points awarded to the top 15 competitors: (25, 20, 16, 13, 11, 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1).
Coefficients
- A coefficient of 1 will be applied to "FIM Rally" events.
- A coefficient of 1.5 will be applied to "FIM Marathon Rally" events. The result will be rounded up to the nearest integer.
Constructor classification
- Each constructor can field a maximum of three riders or drivers in each event. Only the top two from each team will score points, which will be awarded following the above scale.
