Full Breakdown
United States Set to Host World Rally Championship Round in August 2027
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
The FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) will stage its 11th round in the United States from August 26 to 29, 2027, the series’ first U.S. event since the Olympus Rally’s 1988 finale. The rally will run on stages in Tennessee and Kentucky that were evaluated during a candidate event held in June. The 2027 calendar expands to 15 rounds, adding the U.S. and a return to Britain in September, while Saudi Arabia is slated as the final round on November 25-28. The season opened in Monte Carlo on January 21.
Background & Context
The United States last featured on the WRC map from 1986-1988, when the Olympus Rally in Washington state served as the American round. The recent candidate event showed that the Appalachian backroads of eastern Kentucky and adjacent Tennessee provide the narrow gravel and varied terrain favored by rally organizers.
Data & Statistics
- The WRC averages 100 million viewers per race.
- European WRC events have generated an average economic impact of €41 million (? $46 million) per race.
- Rally US projects that a U.S. round could inject $58 million into tourism, creating thousands of temporary jobs.
Official Statements & Responses
WRC Promoter CEO Eric Boullier highlighted the strategic value of adding the United States and United Kingdom to the schedule, noting opportunities for manufacturers, commercial partners, and fans. Matt Crews, president and CEO of Rally US, called the 2027 event a historic moment that will deliver a world-class rally to American roads. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem emphasized the United States as a key growth market for the championship.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Returning to the United States and United Kingdom, alongside bringing the WRC to an iconic destination such as Rome, creates tremendous opportunities for our manufacturers, commercial partners and fans,” — Eric Boullier, WRC Promoter CEO
- “For 38 years, America has been the missing pin on the FIA World Rally Championship map. Today, that changes,” — Matt Crews, Rally US
What's Next
Rally US will publish full event details—including venues, ticketing information, and partnership arrangements—in the coming weeks. The candidate event in June confirmed the suitability of the Tennessee-Kentucky stages, and organizers will continue to refine the route ahead of the August rally. The expanded 2027 calendar is expected to attract new investment and broaden the sport’s global footprint.