The official launch of the Rally del Paraguay 2026 has confirmed the event will be the longest in the World Rally Championship season, featuring an expanded route of 22 stages and over 360 kilometres of timed sections. The presentation of the Paraguay Rally, held at the Paraguayan Olympic Committee (COP), detailed significant updates for the country’s second hosting of the prestigious international competition.
This year’s rally represents a considerable expansion on the 2025 edition. The total number of competitive stages has increased from 19 to 22, and the timed distance has grown from 335 kilometres to more than 360 kilometres. Consequently, organisers are anticipating a larger field of competitors, with an expected 60 crews, up from the 48 that participated in the previous event.
An extended and more demanding route
Scheduled to run from the 27 to 30 August, the rally will serve as the eleventh round of the World Rally Championship. The entire event will be based in the department of Itapúa, which will host the demanding gravel stages that will test the world’s best drivers and their teams.
The competition officially begins on Thursday, 27 August, with the shakedown, an initial technical test for the cars, in Nueva Alborada. Later that day, the ceremonial start will take place at the Encarnaceno Civic Centre – Sambódromo, providing fans with an opportunity to see the cars and drivers before the action commences.
A detailed look at the four-day itinerary
The first full day of competitive driving on Friday will see the crews tackle stages in Cambyera, Nueva Alborada, and the Autódromo, which will be run twice. This day also includes the Yerbatera stage, which at 33.26 kilometres, will be the longest single timed section of the entire rally, presenting a significant early challenge.
Saturday is set to be the longest day of the competition, featuring two loops of stages around Bella Vista, Bella Vista south, Hohenau, and Trinidad. A loop in rallying consists of several timed special stages connected by public roads. Furthermore, Saturday evening introduces one of the event’s most significant new features: a timed Super Special stage. This stage will be held at night along the Costanera of Asunción and will cover a distance of 3.10 kilometres.
The final stages and official ceremony
The rally will conclude on Sunday with the final set of stages. These will take place in the areas of Encarnación, Artigas, and Artigas Oeste. The competition will culminate with the Power Stage, also in Encarnación. This final special stage offers bonus championship points to the five fastest crews, ensuring the competition remains intense until the very end.
Following the conclusion of the Power Stage, the official awards ceremony will be held at El Molino San José, located in Encarnación, often referred to as the ‘pearl of the south’. This will provide a celebratory finish to four days of world-class motorsport action.
High-profile support for the international event
The official launch ceremony was attended by numerous prominent figures, highlighting the event’s national importance. The President of the Republic, Santiago Peña, was present, along with Claudia Centurión, the Minister of Public Works and Communications (MOPC), and César Ramírez, the Minister of Sports.
Also in attendance were Camilo Pérez López Moreira, the head of the Paraguayan Olympic Committee, and the rising Paraguayan motorsport star, Formula 2 driver Joshua Dürksen. Their presence, alongside other government authorities and competing drivers, underscored the widespread support for bringing the World Rally Championship to Paraguay and making the 2026 edition its most ambitious event to date.
