World Rally Championship set for UK return with Rally Scotland from 2027

The FIA World Rally Championship will return to the United Kingdom in 2027 with the introduction of WRC Rally Scotland, marking the series’ comeback to one of rallying’s most historic territories.

Developed in partnership with Motorsport UK, the new gravel-based event will be based in northeast Scotland, with rally headquarters and service park facilities located 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 (won by Toyota’s Ott Tanak, pictured above).

Scotland’s forest roads are expected to provide a fast, flowing challenge for the WRC’s drivers and manufacturers, while the region’s infrastructure and transport links offer a strong platform for teams, media and fans attending the event.

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, and is expected to deliver significant economic and tourism benefits for the region.

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.

Simon Larkin, Senior Events Director at WRC Promoter, said: “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.

“We’re delighted to be working alongside the Scottish Government and local authority partners to see this exciting initiative come to fruition – something that will benefit many, and especially the passionate rally fans across the UK.”

FIA Deputy President for Sport, Malcolm Wilson, who founded Ford WRC partner M-Sport and finished third as a driver on the UK’s WRC-counting RAC Rally in 1993, said: “This is a huge announcement for the FIA World Rally Championship; it really demonstrates the positive direction we are now taking. The United Kingdom has incredible heritage and passion for our sport, and the return of a flagship world championship event in Scotland 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 competing 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.”

While the WRC has been missing a UK-based round since the demise of Rally GB in 2019, British presence on the championship remains high, with Rally1 manufacturer M-Sport Ford, Toyota Gazoo Racing driver Elfyn Evans and his co-driver, Scott Martin, and Oliver Solberg’s co-driver Elliott Edmondson among the series’ regular participants.

David Richards, Chairman of Motorsport UK and the 1981 WRC champion co-driver, said: “Rallying has always had a special place in the story of British motorsport and, for me personally, it has been a huge part of my life. I’ve had the privilege of experiencing the World Rally Championship from inside a rally car, and I know just how unique the atmosphere of a UK rally can be – the forests, the fans and the extraordinary community of volunteers and motor clubs who make these events possible. That’s why seeing the championship return to the UK is so meaningful.”

WRC Rally Scotland isn’t the only event that’s set to put a new look on the the 14-round WRC calendar in 2027. A return to the USA looks a near-certainty, too, with a Candidate Event taking place June 11-17, 2026, across stages in Tennessee and Kentucky to assess sporting operations, safety, infrastructure and event promotion. Like WRC Rally Scotland, the U.S.-based round is expected to be approved for a ’27 slot by the FIA World Motor Sport Council post-Candidate Event.

• Catch WRC action from all rounds of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship on RACER Network and the RACER+ App. Next up, Safari Rally Kenya highlights on March 23. 
• And for a deeper dive into the WRC, check out the WRC Magazine Show on RACER Network, with new episodes airing before each rally.  
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