The announcement was made by César Marsal, Chief Executive Officer of the ueno Rally del Paraguay, during his appearance on the program Tribuna, broadcast by Paraguay TV, after returning to the country following the award ceremony in Uzbekistan, accompanied by the President of the Republic, Santiago Peña.
Marsal described the recognition as “a source of great pride” and stressed that the Paraguayan rally was organized for the first time under international standards, managing to prevail in the FIA’s evaluation over competitions with decades of history, such as those in Portugal and Finland. According to the executive, the international judges particularly appreciated the organizational capacity, the sporting quality, and the innovative starting ceremony, which brought together more than 5,000 people and combined music, DJs, carnival, direct interaction with the drivers, and a closing fireworks display.
The keys to success
On the sporting side, the FIA highlighted that the competition was “perfect,” a decisive factor given that sporting performance accounts for about 80% of the international evaluation. Added to this was praise for the Service Park, designed as an open space that allowed close interaction between the public, the teams, and the vehicles, creating an unprecedented experience for fans.
Marsal also highlighted the role of the Paraguayan public, whom he described as central to the event’s success. “The people took ownership of the rally, turned it into a party, and behaved in an exemplary manner towards visitors, teams, and authorities,” he said.
Service Park, with international recognition
The impact of the Service Park transcended the competition and once again captured international attention when the new WRC2 Champion Oliver Solberg, a figure in the World Rally Championship (WRC), publicly praised its design. Through his social media accounts, Solberg shared a photograph with architect Lourdes Gómez, who was responsible for the project, accompanied by the message: “Lourdes has designed the beautiful service area.” The gesture reinforced international recognition of the work of the Paraguayan organizing team.
Looking ahead to the 2026 Rally Paraguay
The announcement was made by César Marsal, Chief Executive Officer of the ueno Rally del Paraguay.
Looking ahead to the next edition, Marsal revealed that Encarnación could play a leading role in the 2026 ueno Rally del Paraguay. Among the proposals under consideration are the inclusion of urban stages and the possibility of holding the power stage in the city. This final stage, one of the most eagerly awaited by the public and television broadcasters, awards extra points to the five fastest drivers and is characterized by its spectacular nature, with jumps, technical curves, and thousands of spectators in the stands.
Paraguay has already made its mark in previous editions with the Hohenau power stage, which drew crowds and became one of the most celebrated images of the world rally.
“For the FIA, Paraguay is now number one, followed by the other rounds. Paraguay is at the top of the WRC,” said Marsal. With this international backing, the organization is preparing for a 2026 edition that promises to be the largest, most participatory, and most international in the history of the Rally Paraguay, with the goal of bringing together 400,000 fans throughout its various stages.
