ARC Shrinks from Seven to Four Rounds — Sponsorship Failure Is Eroding Africa's Oldest Rally Championship
Zambia, Tanzania, and Côte d'Ivoire have withdrawn. East Africa alone survives the 2025 ARC calendar.
The FIA African Rally Championship contracted sharply in 2025 — from seven rounds to four. Three nations withdrew, and all shared the same cause: sponsorship failure. This is a structural analysis of why Africa's oldest international rally series is quietly disappearing.
In 2025, the FIA African Rally Championship reduced its calendar from seven rounds to four. Zambia, Tanzania, and Côte d'Ivoire withdrew — not for political reasons, but for one simple, devastating cause: sponsorship failures. Africa's oldest international rally series is quietly contracting. The story of why is more important than the numbers.
The deep dive at the end of this article is for WSJ subscribers only.
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