 Wales will again host the last race in the World Rally calendar |
Britain's round of the World Rally Championship will revert to its season-ending slot next year, says the International Automobile Federation. Wales Rally GB, which had been brought forward to September in 2004 in the hope of better weather, will now close the 16-race 2006 season on 3 December.
The season begins in Monte Carlo on 20 January before heading to Sweden.
Other changes see Australia and New Zealand paired together rather than at opposite ends of the 11-month schedule.
Meanwhile, the FIA has announced that the 2008 world championship will be run over two years in a football-style season.
In preparation for this, the 2007 season will feature a maximum of nine rallies and run from January to May.
The following season will start in August 2007 and run to May 2008.
The FIA has been under pressure for several years to make the sport more attractive and reduce costs for the teams.
Peugeot and Citroen announced 12 months ago they would quit the world championship at the end of this season.
The switch of race dates in 2008 means rallying will not face competition in television schedules from Formula One racing or motorcycling.
2006 World Rally Championship Schedule:
Jan 20-22 - Monte Carlo Rally
Feb 3-5 - Swedish Rally
Mar 3-5 - Rally Mexico
Mar 24-26 - Rally of Spain
Apr 7-9 - Tour of Corsica
Apr 28-30 - Rally Argentina
May 18-21 - Rally Italy
June 2-4 - Acropolis Rally (Greece)
Aug 11-13 - Rally Germany
Aug 18-20 - Rally Finland
Sep 1-3 - Rally Japan
Sep 22-24 - Cyprus Rally
Oct 13-15 - Rally of Turkey
Oct 27-29 - Rally Australia
Nov 17-19 - Rally of New Zealand
Dec 1-3 - Wales Rally GB
MMIX
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