Since the 1988 Olympus Rally, the World Rally Championship (WRC) has not been held in the United States of America. But the return to Uncle Sam's land will be soon.
In a statement, the International Automobile Federation (FIA), which regulates all world motor sport, confirms that preparations are underway for the WRC's return to the US, with a ‘candidate event’ to be held in 2026 to assess whether the US can be included in the world rally calendar as early as 2027.
‘A successful candidate event would pave the way for the United States' return to the WRC calendar in 2027, a milestone for both the championship and rallying in the country,’ reads the FIA statement.
The pre-WRC event will take place in the summer, between 11 and 17 June, and is expected to be held in the state of Kentucky or Tennessee. ‘Delegates will explore stages and infrastructure,’ reveals the FIA, which confirms ‘the participation of delegates for a thorough inspection and evaluation of all aspects’ of the North American pre-WRC rally.
The FIA president sees the US as ‘one of the most important growth opportunities for the FIA WRC’. Quoted in the same statement, Mohammed Ben Sulayem considers the US a ‘nation where motorsport is in its DNA, with world-class national championships’.
‘I am deeply committed to strengthening the FIA's presence in the US and ensuring that rallying becomes a key pillar of that future,’ he concludes.
The candidate event will be held in collaboration with ACCUS, which stands for American Competition Committee for Motorsports.
In addition to the candidate event, the FIA also intends to be present at a stage of the ARA, the North American national rally championship, as well as to meet with Podium Event Partners, the organiser of the ARA, which also has experience in organising NASCAR.