Scotland’s dramatic landscapes and world-class forest roads are set to take center stage when the FIA World Rally Championship returns to the UK in 2027 in a new Rally Scotland event.
Developed in partnership with Motorsport UK, the proposed gravel event will be based in northeast Scotland, with rally headquarters and service park facilities located at the P&J Live complex in Aberdeen. Stages will run across the surrounding regions of Aberdeenshire and Moray.
The agreement forms an initial three-year deal beginning in 2027 and ends an eight-year absence for the championship in the UK, following the most recent running of Wales Rally GB in 2019.
The rally has been secured through a partnership between Motorsport UK, WRC Promoter and the Scottish government, with support from Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils.
The next step to make WRC Rally Scotland a reality will be for a candidate event to be held later this year, where the FIA will work with Motorsport UK and event organizers to evaluate and prepare for a return to World Championship-level competition. The event will then be submitted for approval on the WRC calendar by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.
FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem said, “The United Kingdom is famed for its motorsport heritage and passionate fans, and the return of the FIA World Rally Championship to its shores is a huge opportunity for the continued growth of our sport.”
Malcolm Wilson OBE, FIA deputy president for sport, added, “This is a huge announcement for the FIA World Rally Championship, and it really shows the positive direction of travel we are now taking.
“The UK has an incredible heritage and passion for our sport, and the return of a flagship world championship event is the start of the next chapter in this long history.
“As we enter a new era for the WRC in 2027 with new regulations, more accessible cars and more crews fighting at the sharp end, it’s fantastic to see the appetite is there from organizers, governments and, of course, the fans to put together new WRC events.”
Simon Larkin, senior events director at WRC Promoter, commented, “Since the FIA World Rally Championship last visited the UK in 2019, Motorsport UK and WRC Promoter have worked closely together to find the right pathway for its return. We have nothing but praise for the determination and hard work shown by Motorsport UK in bringing this project to life.”
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