Australia’s has been left off the World Rally Championship calendar for the first time since 2008.

The WRC announced a new-look event for 2020 on Friday which will see the championship visit six continents – Europe, North America, South America, Asia, Africa and Australasia – in a single season for the first time.

Japan, Kenya and New Zealand return to the fold with Australia, Spain, and France dropped.

However, Rally Australia Tweeted that the race may return in 2021.

“Sadly, we won’t be hosting an @OfficialWRC event in 2020. Subject to the rotation policy, we’re looking forward to hosting again in 2021.”

Australia first hosted a WRC event in 1988 in Perth and was voted Rally of the year by teams in 1995, ’99 and 2000.

After the 2006 event, funding for the event was controversially withdrawn by the Western Australia Tourism Commission before returning to Australia in 2009 in Kingscliff, NSW, then Coffs Harbour.

“It’s no secret we wanted to further globalise the series by incorporating more events outside Europe and we’ve achieved that next year with this exciting new-look calendar,” said Oliver Ciesla, managing director of WRC Promoter, which owns the championship’s commercial rights.

Unlike previous editions of Rally Japan, which were held on the northern island of Hokkaido, the 2020 edition will be an all-asphalt season finale in Nagoya.

Kenya’s iconic Safari Rally, which last ran in 2002, will evolve to fit the modern-day WRC but its characteristics remains with closed dirt roads, scenery and exotic wildlife.

Auckland will host Rally New Zealand, the country’s 33rd WRC appearance, after a seven-year hiatus.