WRC Confirms Historic Return to the US for 2027 Season

The 39-year wait is officially over for American motorsport fans. The FIA World Rally Championship is returning to the United States for the first time since the late 1980s, bringing the pinnacle of global rallying back to domestic gravel.[1][3]

On Thursday, the FIA World Motor Sport Council formally approved a landmark 15-round calendar for the 2027 season. The undisputed headline addition is Rally US, a high-stakes gravel event scheduled for August 26 through 29.[2][6]

The highly anticipated rally is expected to be based out of Knoxville, Tennessee. Competitors will tackle a series of high-speed gravel stages carving through the dense forests of the Southern Appalachian Mountains across both Tennessee and Kentucky.[1][4]

It marks the first time the global championship has touched American soil since the 1988 Olympus Rally in Washington state. That historic event saw Italian legend Miki Biasion pilot a Lancia Delta Integrale to a dominant victory.[3][4]

"For 38 years, America has been the missing pin on the FIA World Rally Championship map," said Matt Crews, President and CEO of Rally US. "Today, that changes. Bringing the best drivers, teams and manufacturers in the world back to American roads is a historic moment."[4]

A calculated North American return

The WRC has spent more than a decade trying to crack the lucrative North American market. Talk of a domestic event reignited in 2022, but organizers deliberately delayed the bid to ensure the local infrastructure was flawless.[5]

That patience paid off this past June, when the region hosted a rigorous candidate event. The test rally allowed the FIA to evaluate sporting procedures, safety protocols, and medical provisions against strict World Championship standards.[1][5]

The successful trial run cleared the final hurdle for the 2027 calendar inclusion. It also provides a massive commercial platform for the championship's manufacturer partners, particularly Ford, which just last week confirmed its continued commitment to the WRC.[1][6]

"The United States gives us an exciting opportunity to grow in a country where interest in rallying continues to rise," said FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. "The 2027 calendar reflects the strong momentum behind the WRC."[2][6]

The American addition is part of a broader, aggressive expansion strategy by the WRC's new promoter leadership. The 2027 schedule balloons to 15 rounds, making it the largest calendar the sport has fielded since the 2008 season.[2]

Scotland and Rome join the fray

The United States isn't the only major market securing a new spot on the 2027 schedule. The United Kingdom will host a round for the first time since 2019, with Rally Scotland confirmed for September 30 to October 3.[1][6]

Backed by the Scottish Government and Motorsport UK, the Aberdeen-based event will showcase the region's notoriously tricky forest roads. It aims to reconnect the championship with one of its most established and passionate European fanbases.[6]

Meanwhile, the traditional Rally d'Italia is getting a massive logistical facelift for the upcoming cycle. The asphalt event will step up from the European Rally Championship and relocate its base to Rome from July 8 through July 11.[1][6]

The new Italian route will combine challenging stages in the Lazio region with a ceremonial backdrop in the heart of the historic capital. It adds a crucial tarmac event to the middle of the grueling summer schedule.[1][6]

"2027 represents the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the World Rally Championship," said Éric Boullier, CEO of WRC Promoter. "This calendar reflects our ambition to build a stronger, more accessible and truly global championship."[2][6]

"Returning to the United States and United Kingdom, alongside bringing the WRC to an iconic destination such as Rome, creates tremendous opportunities," Boullier added. "It directly benefits our manufacturers, commercial partners, and dedicated fans alike."[6]

Setting the stage for a new era

The expanded calendar arrives just as the WRC prepares to introduce its new technical regulations in 2027. These sweeping rule changes are designed to reduce operational costs and attract even more manufacturers to the premier Rally1 class.[1][6]

The 2027 season will kick off with the traditional Rallye Monte-Carlo from January 21 to 24. It then moves through classic winter and safari tests in Sweden and Kenya before hitting a three-rally asphalt stretch in Croatia, the Canary Islands, and Japan.[1][6]

The second half of the season will be dominated by gravel, placing a heavy premium on road position and tire management. Fast-paced events in Estonia and Finland will serve as the immediate high-speed warm-up for the American debut.[2][6]

The championship will ultimately conclude in the desert dust of Rally Saudi Arabia from November 25 to 28. For American fans, however, the real victory of the 2027 season is already secured on paper.[2]

After nearly four decades of watching the world's best rally drivers from afar, the domestic rally community finally has a home event to circle. The long countdown to the Knoxville gravel stages starts right now.[1]