Thirty-nine years. That’s the staggering number of years the World Rally Championship has been absent from American soil, but that drought is officially OVER with the series announcing its grand return to the United States in 2027. Seriously, talk about a long time coming. This is huge for rally fans across the country, who’ve been waiting since the Reagan era for a home-soil championship round.
The Long Road Home and Where It’s Heading
So, the big reveal is that WRC will be tearing up American roads near the end of August 2027. But where exactly? That’s the million-dollar question, and while full details, including ticketing and how to actually *see* these beasts fly, are due on October 27th, we’ve got a pretty strong hint already. The most likely spot is a route linking Tennessee and Kentucky. This region actually got floated for a WRC round way back in 2023, and even though that earlier effort stalled, the FIA confirmed a WRC candidate event there this past January. That candidate rally ran successfully in June, which is the clearest signal yet that the Tennessee-Kentucky bid has cleared all the requirements and is ready for the big show.
A Washington Connection and What This Means for the Future
It’s wild to think the last time WRC was officially here, it was Rally Olympus, which ran through Washington from 1986 to 1988. That event has kept going as a national rally, operated by the American Rally Association, without interruption since then. But this new championship round? It’s a whole different beast. This return is no doubt tied to the fact that Ford just announced it’s re-joining WRC with a factory-backed team. We’re talking fresh investment and new energy. Éric Boullier, the CEO of WRC Promoter, summed it up perfectly, saying, “2027 represents the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the World Rally Championship, and this calendar reflects our ambition to build a stronger, more accessible and truly global championship.” He also mentioned how returning to the United States and the United Kingdom, plus bringing WRC to “an iconic destination such as Rome,” creates massive opportunities for manufacturers, partners, and us, the fans. With new technical regulations coming too, it’s a unique chance to really shape the future of the sport.
The full scope of this epic event still hinges on that October 27th announcement. Mark your calendars, because that’s when we’ll find out exactly where to go and how to witness WRC’s return to the US. It’s gonna be a blast, and honestly, it’s about time.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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