Round 11 set for ultimate test as championship heads to Encarnación. The FIA World Rally Championship is in full gear for its toughest red-dirt challenge yet.
The UENO Rally del Paraguay 2026 roars into action from August 27-30, serving as Round 11 of the season — and it’s already shaping up to be one of the most unpredictable events of the year.
Based in Encarnación, Itapúa, near the Argentina border, the rally will feature 22 competitive gravel stages covering 357.64km of iconic, blood-red earth roads that have made South American rallying legendary.
Red Earth, Real Challenge
On paper, Paraguay looks fast and smooth. On the stages, it’s anything but forgiving.
Crews will face a brutal mix of high-speed red-earth blasts and tight, technical sections through dense vegetation. While the surface is soft and fast on first pass, it cuts up quickly. Deep ruts, hidden rocks, and sudden changes in grip are expected to catch out even the most experienced drivers on second passes.
Braking points will be a gamble. Lines will disappear. And in the dry, fine red dust hangs in the air for minutes, killing visibility. If the rain comes — and in Encarnación, it can — the same stages turn into slippery clay, flipping the script completely.
With limited historical data and no old pace notes to lean on, engineers will be learning on the job. Adaptability will win this rally.
A Historic Host
Paraguay becomes only the third South American country to host a WRC round in the modern era, after Argentina and Chile.
And it’s picked the perfect base. Encarnación, sitting on the Paraná River, is one of Paraguay’s most scenic cities and boasts a vibrant, football-like rally culture. Thousands of fans are already expected to line the red banks.
For crews chasing championship points, this weekend is not just about speed — it’s about survival.
Who learns fastest, stays cleanest, and tames the red dirt, will take the spoils in Paraguay.
