Jari-Matti Latvala has welcomed the FIA's decision to cancel the Saudi Arabian round and make Rally Sardinia the season finale. He believes safety must come first amid the deteriorating security situation in the Middle East.
The announcement came on Thursday after a long deliberation process. The FIA and the WRC promoter delayed the decision until the last possible moment, hoping to find a way for the rally to go ahead. However, the escalating military conflict between the United States and Iran made that impossible.
“I think this is a good decision, definitely. Safety has to be the primary consideration. F1 and WEC rounds have already been cancelled there, so it makes sense not to hold a rally there either,” Latvala told RallyJournal.com.
Championship Impact: Pajari and Solberg's Chances Dwindle
The consequences are significant. The WRC season is now one round shorter, and the title fight will be decided in Sardinia in early October. This is a major blow for Sami Pajari and Oliver Solberg, who now have only one rally to catch their Toyota team-mate Elfyn Evans, who leads the standings.
Evans is a step closer to his first world championship, holding a 17-point lead over Pajari and 21 points over Solberg. With one rally remaining, the task for Pajari and Solberg to overhaul Evans has become even harder.
“Of course, the best scenario would have been to find a replacement event. Sami's and Oliver's chances are now reduced because the season is one round shorter. The decision was less favourable for them,” Latvala said.
Financial Considerations and Replacement Options
The FIA and promoter tried to find a solution. Financial considerations were behind the delay: Saudi Arabia pays handsomely to host a round, so all parties tried until the very end to make it happen. However, Toyota and Hyundai had already announced they could not send their teams to Saudi Arabia due to the security situation.
Organising a replacement rally in November was also considered. “As I understand it, they had considered holding a gravel event in Spain,” Latvala confirmed. But organising a new round at such short notice was nearly impossible.
“With the benefit of hindsight, the decision should obviously have been made in the summer. But perhaps there was still hope and confidence then that the situation in the Middle East would improve,” he added.
The cancellation ends speculation and confirms Rally Sardinia as the title decider. Evans is on the brink of history, while Pajari and Solberg need a miracle in Italy to deny the championship leader.
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