Candidate event completed ahead of possible U.S. return to the WRC

The Rally US candidate event to assess the United States' potential return to the World Rally Championship has been successfully completed. 

The seven day event – organized with the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States (ACCUS) – took place from June 11-17 and had delegates from the FIA’s sporting, safety and medical departments review sporting procedures, safety protocols, medical provisions and operational structures and working closely with local officials and the event’s operational teams to assess the event’s preparedness and planning for a potential FIA World Rally Championship round.

“ACCUS was pleased to support the FIA, WRC Promoter, Rally USA, the American Rally Association, and the many volunteers, officials, and stakeholders involved in this candidate event,” said Kevin Miller, president of the ACCUS. “The visit provided an important opportunity to showcase the passion for rallying in the United States and to further understand the requirements associated with hosting an FIA World Rally Championship event. 

“We appreciate the collaboration of everyone involved and look forward to continuing our support of the FIA evaluation process as discussions move forward.”

The candidate event began with the Southern Ohio Forest Rally, a round of the American Rally Association's National series, before moving onto Tennessee and Kentucky to continue evaluations for a potential full-scale WRC round. As well as reviewing potential stage routes and local medical facilities, visits to the proposed service park and ceremonial start locations in Knoxville and Nashville also took place. WRC Promoter also presented plans for fan activations and media and promotional activities.

“The concise presentations made by the Rally US team underlined once more the great potential of this proposed event: challenging roads set among incredible backdrops, in a region brimming with car culture and welcoming hospitality,” said WRC Promoter Rally US project leader Marc de Jong. “Add to that the significance of Tennessee and Kentucky for the automotive manufacturing sector, and it is clear to see that this would be the perfect location for the long-awaited return of WRC to the United States after four decades.

Rally US promoter Matt Crews added: “Having the opportunity to work so closely with the FIA and WRC Promoter over this last week has been incredibly valuable to Rally US and America’s return to the FIA World Rally Championship. The co-operation between the Rally US team, ACCUS, the ARA and their counterparts in the FIA and WRC Promoter has been really impressive. 

“From the moment everybody arrived at Southern Ohio Forest Rally, where the delegation was able to see what a round of America’s national championship looks like, all the way through a busy schedule of stage and location visits here in Tennessee and Kentucky, the positivity and cohesiveness has been fantastic. We’ve made great strides towards the ultimate goal of bringing the FIA World Rally Championship back to America and we’re looking forward to the next steps now.”

With the candidate event now completed, the FIA will now go over its delegates' reports in the coming months before making a decision of whether the U.S. will return to the WRC for the first time since 1988.

“The completion of the Rally US candidate event marks an important first step towards the FIA World Rally Championship’s return to the United States,” said FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem. “I would like to thank our member club ACCUS, the ARA, WRC Promoter, the local organizers and all those who have worked together to support this process. With the candidate event now complete, our focus turns to detailing our reports and sharing our learnings with the local organizers.

“I am committed to bringing the WRC back to the United States, a nation where motorsport is part of its cultural DNA. The candidate event gives us the opportunity not only to assess the proposed stages, but to also work closely with the organizers to shape the strongest possible event for the championship, the competitors, and the fans.”