- Rally US is scheduled for August 26–29, 2027.
- The event will feature gravel stages in Tennessee and Kentucky.
- It’s the WRC’s first American appearance since 1988.
America has no shortage of motorsports, but one of the world’s most exciting racing championships has been conspicuously absent for nearly four decades. That’s finally about to change. The FIA World Rally Championship has confirmed that it will return to the United States in 2027, ending a drought stretching back to 1988. Better yet, the action will take place on gravel roads in Tennessee and Kentucky.
The announcement comes as part of the FIA’s newly approved 2027 calendar, which features 15 rounds across five continents. Rally US will take place August 26–29, becoming the championship’s 11th event of the season. The event will be based around Knoxville, Tennessee, with competitive stages extending into Kentucky. Organizers have spent years working to bring the championship back to American soil. This year, a candidate event held in June helped demonstrate that the proposed roads and infrastructure could meet WRC standards.
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The championship’s official event listing describes a mixture of fast, flowing gravel roads and tighter, more technical sections. That should provide an interesting challenge for competitors accustomed to everything from Finland’s high-speed forest stages to the punishing terrain of Kenya. Notably, the complete itinerary, spectator locations, and ticket information haven’t been announced yet.
For longtime rally fans, this entire event is a huge deal. The championship last visited the United States in 1988, when Washington state’s Olympus Rally hosted a race. By the time the new event begins, 39 years will have passed since that appearance. Rally US President and CEO Matt Crews called the announcement a historic moment for American motorsport, while crediting the domestic rally community for keeping the sport alive during the WRC’s absence.
“This moment belongs to the American rally community,” Crews said. “For decades, the competitors, volunteers, organizers and fans kept this sport alive on American roads, and their work is what proved to the FIA that our country is ready.” Importantly, fans won’t have to wait too long to learn more. Rally US has confirmed that it will announce additional details on October 27, including host locations, ticketing plans, fan activities, and event partnerships.
The American return is just one part of a substantial shakeup for the WRC. Scotland is also rejoining the calendar for the first time since 2019, while Italy’s event moves to Rome. The championship is also introducing new technical regulations intended to reduce costs and make the series more accessible to manufacturers and independent constructors. That makes 2027 a particularly interesting year for rally fans. There will be new cars, new destinations, and, for the first time in nearly four decades, an opportunity to watch the world’s best rally drivers compete on American gravel.