The 2026 Rally Saudi Arabia has suddenly found itself at the centre of uncertainty after Toyota and Hyundai confirmed they are currently unable to travel to Saudi Arabia for the final round of the World Rally Championship (WRC). The development follows evolving Middle East travel restrictions and has raised fresh questions over whether the Jeddah-based WRC finale can proceed as planned in November.
For two of the championship’s leading manufacturers, the issue is not simply about getting rally cars and equipment to Saudi Arabia. Company-wide business travel policies are currently affecting their teams, meaning personnel involved with Toyota Gazoo Racing and Hyundai Motorsport cannot presently make the journey. Both manufacturers have formally communicated their position to the FIA and WRC Promoter, putting safety and corporate travel regulations firmly at the heart of the situation.
The timing makes the situation particularly significant. Rally Saudi Arabia is scheduled to host the 2026 WRC season finale in Jeddah, and the event is expected to bring together the championship’s leading teams and drivers for the closing round. With logistics already needing to be arranged well ahead of the November event, any prolonged travel restriction could make preparations increasingly difficult.
Toyota and Hyundai Cite Travel Restrictions
Toyota and Hyundai jointly sent a letter to the FIA outlining their position regarding the November event. Hyundai said its business travel restrictions covering parts of the Middle East are being reviewed daily and remain subject to change.
Toyota explained that its rally operation must follow the regulations established by Toyota Motor Corporation (TMC). Under the company’s current policy, travel to the Middle East is not permitted for its employees, while headquarters continues to review the situation and provide updates to the team on a weekly basis.
This means the immediate obstacle is not a decision by the WRC teams themselves to withdraw from the rally. Instead, their participation is being affected by wider corporate travel policies connected to the regional security situation.
FIA Working on a Solution
The FIA has not announced that Rally Saudi Arabia 2026 has been cancelled or postponed. FIA road sport director Emilia Abel said preparations were continuing, although she acknowledged that there is a practical limit to how long logistics can remain unresolved.
The governing body is therefore working to determine whether a solution can be found that addresses the concerns raised by Toyota and Hyundai while allowing the championship finale to remain on schedule. A decision could become necessary soon as teams approach important logistical and entry deadlines.
M-Sport, meanwhile, has taken a different position. Team principal Richard Millener said his organisation is following government foreign-office guidance, which currently restricts travel within 10 kilometres of the Saudi border with Yemen. He also stressed that the safety of the team remains the primary consideration.
WRC Saudi Arabia Finale Faces a Key Test
The uncertainty comes at a sensitive moment for the World Rally Championship calendar. Rally Saudi Arabia is designed to provide a distinctive finale, with the Jeddah-based event combining fast desert roads with rocky and abrasive sections that can create demanding conditions for crews and cars. Hyundai’s official event information describes the rally as featuring high temperatures, puncture risks and varied terrain.
For the WRC, the immediate challenge is balancing contractual commitments to Saudi Arabia with the safety concerns and travel policies of competing manufacturers. WRC Promoter COO Julien Vial said the organisation is closely monitoring developments while recognising both the FIA’s recommendations and the concerns raised by teams.
With Toyota and Hyundai currently unable to send their teams to Saudi Arabia, the coming days could prove crucial for the 2026 WRC season finale. Nothing has been officially cancelled yet, but the clock is moving quickly as logistics, entries and team preparations become harder to adjust. For fans waiting to see the championship conclude in Jeddah, the hope will be that a workable solution emerges without compromising the safety of the people who make the WRC possible.
