FIA President Jean Todt ensures that the World Rally Championship will come back to the Middle East eventually despite the Abu Dhabi and Jordan Rally being officially dropped from the calendar.
The last meeting of the World Motor Sport Council resulted in a 'no go' for an Abu Dhabi rally in 2011.
The WMSC hoped that the organisers would try again in 2012 and host a Candidate event, which proposition has been "respectfully declined" by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
The only Middle Eastern destination of the WRC current schedule is Jordan where the championship will not be welcomed next year, it has been confirmed.
Jean Todt however insists that, despite the apparences, the World Rally Championship is indeed trying to get out of Europe and visit more of... the World.
"The Middle East will definitely be part of the future of the WRC. The World Rally Championship must cover the world. At the moment, it covers too much Europe.
"We are starting to rebuild it, but it takes time. We are moving slowly, but surely," Todt said.
The last meeting of the World Motor Sport Council resulted in a 'no go' for an Abu Dhabi rally in 2011.
The WMSC hoped that the organisers would try again in 2012 and host a Candidate event, which proposition has been "respectfully declined" by the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority.
The only Middle Eastern destination of the WRC current schedule is Jordan where the championship will not be welcomed next year, it has been confirmed.
Jean Todt however insists that, despite the apparences, the World Rally Championship is indeed trying to get out of Europe and visit more of... the World.
"The Middle East will definitely be part of the future of the WRC. The World Rally Championship must cover the world. At the moment, it covers too much Europe.
"We are starting to rebuild it, but it takes time. We are moving slowly, but surely," Todt said.