The current international situation in Ukraine has forced the organisers of the Rally Kazakhstan, round three of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), to cancel the event due to take place from April 25-30.

This news will not come as a surprise to many involved or already planning on racing the Rally Kazakhstan but the 2022 edition has become yet another consequence of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the knock-on effects both globally and to countries in the region.

The cancellation of the event means the W2RC provisionally drops to a four-round championship with Dakar and Abu Dhabi already taking place. The next scheduled event therefore will be the Andalucía Rally in Spain on June 7-12 followed by Rallye du Maroc on October 7-12.

A further date is sought though and the FIM, FIA, the teams and W2RC promoter A.S.O. are looking which event might fill the gap. Not all competitors at each round take part in the full world championship series but many use the events to qualify or at least prove themselves in advance of competing in the Dakar next January.

The FIM say: “In view of this situation, all stakeholders of the discipline are now jointly considering a number of possible replacements to host a fifth and final round, to be held at the end of the season. The Rally Kazakhstan will be fully restored to the 2023 calendar*.”

 * Subject to approval by the World Motor Sport Council and FIM Board of Directors.

Photo Credit: Rally Zone