- FIA championship returns to the UK in 2027 with a new event in north-east Scotland
- Motorsport UK secures a three-year agreement with WRC Promoter, covering 2027, 2028 and 2029
- Rally HQ and Service Park to be located at P&J Live at The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA), the city’s £330m conference, exhibition and arena hub
- Event backed by Scottish Government, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council funding, promising major economic and community benefits
Bicester, UK, 16 March 2026 – The FIA World Rally Championship will return to the UK in 2027 with a new event, Rally Scotland, headquartered in Aberdeen and taking place in the forests of north-east Scotland.
Motorsport UK has agreed a three-year deal with WRC Promoter GmbH to bring the championship back to the UK from 2027 to 2029. The agreement follows funding support from the Scottish Government, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council.
From left to right, Simon Larkin, Malcolm Wilson OBE, Richard Lochhead MSP, David Richards CBE
The rally will be based at P&J Live at The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA) with facilities including an indoor service park, rally headquarters, event arena and conference and seminar space. Stages will run on closed forest gravel roads across Aberdeenshire, providing a compact route built around proven infrastructure and some of the UK’s best gravel rally stages.
The event is expected to be allocated an autumn slot in 2027, with the exact dates to be confirmed when the FIA finalises the championship calendar later this year.
The return ends a seven-year hiatus for the UK round of the WRC, one of the sport’s longest-standing events and what many regard as its spiritual homeland. Britain has been part of the championship’s story since its launch in 1973, with the RAC Rally and later Wales Rally GB long established on the calendar until 2019.
Since then, Motorsport UK has worked with WRC Promoter and key national and regional partners, including VisitScotland and Visit Aberdeenshire, to develop a new model for a UK event that is commercially strong, regionally valuable and aligned with the championship’s strategic direction.
Scotland’s gravel forest stages are already a feature of the British Rally Championship.
North-east Scotland was chosen for its combination of sporting challenge, international transport links, ample hotel capacity, event infrastructure and striking natural scenery. Its coast, forests and mountains provide a fitting backdrop for a sport played across some of the world’s most dramatic and televisual landscapes. Aberdeen International Airport sits adjacent to the rally hub, while the surrounding region offers forest stages with a rich rallying pedigree.
Rally Scotland will also reflect the sport’s changing direction. WRC cars compete using 100% fossil-free fuel, and the event will work with partners across Scotland’s growing sustainable fuel sector. Motorsport UK will also develop community and social impact programmes in the run-up to 2027.
Welsh driver Elfyn Evans, leads the FIA World Rally Championship after the most recent round, Safari Rally Kenya.
The championship’s return is expected to deliver a major economic boost across Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire and neighbouring communities, attracting visitors, teams, media and fans from across the UK, Europe and beyond.
The UK round of the WRC has produced some of rallying’s most memorable moments. In 1995, Scotland’s Colin McRae, co-driven by Derek Ringer, became the first Briton to win the World Rally Championship title after a dramatic finale on home soil. In 2001, England’s Richard Burns, alongside Scottish co-driver Robert Reid, secured the crown in another tense Rally GB decider.
David Richards CBE, Chairman of Motorsport UK, said:
“Rallying has always held a special place in the story of British motorsport and, for me personally, it has been a huge part of my life. Having experienced the World Rally Championship from inside a rally car, I know just how unique the atmosphere of a UK rally can be — the forests, the fans and the extraordinary community of volunteers and motor clubs who make these events so special.
“We are incredibly grateful to the Scottish Government, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council for their commitment to this event. Their support has made it possible to bring the World Rally Championship back to the UK, and Scotland provides a spectacular stage for the next chapter of that story.”
The Scottish Government’s Minister for Business, Richard Lochhead said:
“The Scottish Government is delighted to have played a role in bringing the World Rally Championship back to Scotland.
“This is the first time that a round of the event will be staged solely in Scotland and is a huge moment for Scottish motorsport. It is also an opportunity to attract thousands of visitors, teams and fans from around the world, bringing significant benefits boosting local and national economies.
“Scotland has a growing reputation for hosting world-class events and WRC Rally Scotland will showcase our country on the global sporting stage, inspire communities and promote Scotland internationally.”
Malcolm Wilson OBE, Deputy President for Sport at motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, said:
“This is a huge announcement for the FIA World Rally Championship, it really demonstrates the positive direction we are now taking. The United Kingdom has incredible heritage and passion for our sport, and the return of a flagship world championship event in Scotland is the start of the next chapter in this long history.
“As we enter a new era for the WRC in 2027 with new regulations, more accessible cars and more crews competing at the sharp end, it’s fantastic to see the appetite is there from organisers, governments and of course the fans to put together new WRC events. Alongside Motorsport UK, the WRC Promoter and the local organisers we are very much looking forward to making these plans a reality.”
Simon Larkin, Senior Events Director at WRC Promoter, said:
“Since the FIA World Rally Championship last visited the UK in 2019, Motorsport UK and WRC Promoter have worked closely together to find the right pathway for its return. We have nothing but praise for the determination and hard work shown by Motorsport UK in bringing this project to life.
“We’re delighted to be working alongside the Scottish Government and local authority partners to see this exciting initiative come to fruition – something that will benefit many, and especially the passionate rally fans across the UK.”
Further details, including route information, stage locations, and opportunities for local businesses and volunteers to get involved, will be announced in the coming months.
-ENDS-
From left to right, Jon Armstrong, Malcolm Wilson OBE, Simon Larkin, Richard Lochhead MSP, David Richards CBE, Max McRae, Hugh Chambers
About Motorsport UK
Motorsport UK is the national governing body and membership organisation for four-wheeled motorsport in the UK, powering a sport that is safe, fair and fun for everyone.
Representing a nationwide community of more than 100,000 people, Motorsport UK supports 64,000 competition licence holders, 11,000 volunteers and officials, and more than 600 affiliated clubs across the country. Together, they bring motorsport to life through over 3,500 permitted events every year, from grassroots competitions to world-class international championships.
Authorised by the UK Government as the National Sporting Authority and a founding member of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Motorsport UK regulates and develops the sport while championing innovation, inclusion and sustainability.
From first-time competitors to lifelong volunteers and passionate fans, Motorsport UK is working with its community to get more people enjoying motorsport, more often — powering the future of the sport, together.