Info Malang Raya Its All About World News
The FIA Confident in WRC’s Return to the USA in 2027
The FIA has expressed confidence that the World Rally Championship (WRC) will host a round in the United States in 2027, following its exclusion from the 2026 schedule. This decision marks a significant step in the WRC’s long-standing goal of returning to the USA for the first time since the 1988 Olympus Rally. The initiative is a key component of the championship’s strategy to expand its global footprint and grow the sport.
In recent years, the WRC has made notable progress toward this objective. Last year, the organization announced a “clear roadmap” aimed at bringing a U.S. event to the 2026 calendar. This plan involved direct investment and collaboration with WRC Promoter in promoting the event. In April, the WRC Promoter confirmed that a multi-year agreement was in place, with the USA included on a proposed 2026 calendar. However, the inclusion of the event required approval from both the FIA and the American national federation, ACCUS.
Following discussions, the FIA, WRC Promoter, and ACCUS have mutually decided to delay the U.S. event until 2027 at the earliest. Emilia Abel, the FIA’s Road Sport Director, explained the reasoning behind the decision during a media roundtable at Rally Finland. She stated, “We are working hard together with the promoter and ACCUS to bring Rally USA to the WRC calendar. However, it has been a mutual decision that it will require another year to get prepared.”
Abel emphasized that the FIA remains committed to ensuring the event meets all necessary standards. “As we all know, rallying is a slightly different discipline and perceived slightly different [in the USA] than in Europe,” she noted. “We have decided that we want to be 100% confident that they are following exactly the same requirements as the FIA, and just need another year to be prepared and trained for the event, just purely from the organisational point of view.”
When asked about the likelihood of the U.S. event appearing on the 2027 calendar, Abel responded with certainty. “Yes, confident, 100%. We see some very good progress already over the last month. We see a dedicated team, so it’s certainly on a good path.”
Details of the Candidate Event
While the exact details of the candidate event for Rally USA remain undefined, it is currently being considered for September. Abel mentioned that the event is in progress but no official application has been submitted yet. “It is in progress. There is no official application yet, but it is in progress, and it’s considered to be at the moment at the end of September, but there is no official application. So until the official application is there, I can’t say that it is 100% happening,” she said.
Another challenge that had initially delayed the U.S. event was securing insurance to host a WRC round. However, the FIA has confirmed that this issue is no longer a concern. “Yes, it has indeed been a topic as well, but I believe that the organiser had found the solution for that,” Abel added.
Future Outlook
Despite the postponement, the FIA remains optimistic about the future of the WRC in the United States. The organization continues to work closely with local organizers, the national federation, and the WRC Promoter to ensure that the event is not only held but also executed to the highest standards. With continued progress and dedication, the return of the WRC to the U.S. in 2027 looks increasingly likely.
