Indonesia has once again cemented its place on the Asia-Pacific rally stage. North Sumatra Rally 2026 has been officially confirmed as the third round of the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship, a prestigious honor that revives the region's rich rallying heritage. The event will take place on 7-9 August 2026, putting Simalungun and its surroundings in the spotlight for regional motorsport fans.
This event is not just an APRC round; it also counts towards the Asia Cup and runs alongside the fourth round of the IMI National Rally Championship. This means national and international drivers will share the same stages, adding to the competition and excitement. The official FIA calendar places this Indonesian round after Otago Rally in New Zealand and South India Rally, before the championship heads to Rally Longyou in China.
Technically, North Sumatra Rally 2026 offers a formidable challenge. The total route covers 231.10 kilometers, featuring 12 special stages, all on gravel. Of the total, 167.96 kilometers are competitive sections that will test consistency, tire management, and car endurance. SS7/SS10 Tobasari A Reverse is the longest test at 18.27 kilometers, while SS1/SS4 Bah Butong is the shortest at 8.44 kilometers. There are no night stages, but the gravel character demanding precise pace notes will be key.
The event schedule begins with reconnaissance on 5-6 August and shakedown on Thursday, 6 August. The ceremonial start will be held at H. Adam Malik Square, Pematang Siantar, on Friday at 16:00 local time. The closing ceremony is scheduled at Sarimatondang Square, Sidamanik, Simalungun, on Sunday, 9 August at 15:45. The rally headquarters and service park are based in Toba Sari, with the PTPN IV plantation area as the main hub.
The presence of the APRC in North Sumatra extends the region's long association with international rallying. Since the I.M.S.U Trans Sumatra Rally in 1975, followed by the Rally Indonesia, Lake Toba Rally, and APRC rounds, North Sumatra has always held a special place. Big names like Colin McRae, Carlos Sainz, Toshihiro Arai, and Gaurav Gill have left their mark here. Rifat Sungkar, an Indonesian rally legend, also won the Gudang Garam International Rally Indonesia in 2002 and 2003 in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV.
After the Indonesian round, the 2026 APRC calendar continues to Rally Longyou in China on 30 October-1 November. As an Asia Cup round, North Sumatra Rally is a golden opportunity for competitors to score valuable points. Provisional results are scheduled for publication on Sunday at 14:50, before the ceremonial finish in the afternoon. All eyes are now on the gravel of Simalungun, where Indonesian rally history is being written once again.
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