The World Rally Championship’s long-awaited return to the United States has taken a significant step, as the FIA confirmed a WRC candidate event scheduled for 11–17 June 2026. The event will be evaluated as a potential gateway to a full championship round from 2027, nearly 40 years after the WRC last visited the country.
Organised in collaboration with the FIA, WRC, ACCUS (the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States) and proposed promoter Podium Event Partners, the candidate rally will be assessed against full WRC standards. FIA delegates will examine every aspect of delivery, including sporting operations, safety, infrastructure, service park concepts and event promotion.
Stages and infrastructure across Tennessee and Kentucky will form the backbone of the evaluation, while the programme will also include engagement with the U.S. rally scene through a visit to an American Rally Association (ARA) National Championship event. Meetings with local organisers and stakeholders will further support the assessment process.
The initiative “underlines the WRC’s ambition to expand its global footprint and establish a sustainable presence in one of the world’s most important motorsport markets.”
With a growing fanbase and strong grassroots participation, the U.S. is seen as a major growth opportunity for the championship.
“The confirmation of a FIA World Rally Championship candidate event in the United States is an important milestone and a first step towards bringing the championship to the country, offering a valuable opportunity to assess the proposed stages and service park concept.
“ACCUS plays a central role in this process, bringing significant experience and leadership within American motor sport, and the FIA will work closely with ACCUS and the event organisers to evaluate the event and support its continued development to ensure it meets FIA World Rally Championship standards,” Malcolm Wilson, FIA Deputy President for Sport, said.
‘The success of the event would open the door to a WRC round in the USA from 2027’
A successful candidate event would pave the way for the United States to rejoin the WRC calendar in 2027, opening a new chapter for rallying in North America.
“The United States undoubtedly represents a major growth opportunity for the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC). It’s a really important market for our stakeholders and partners and in recent years, we have seen remarkable growth in fan interest.
“WRC Promoter’s plans to bring the WRC back to USA have been germinating for some time and the confirmation of this candidate event marks a significant step. It is a major milestone in WRC’s much anticipated return to the US, after an absence of nearly 40 years,” Marc de Jong, WRC Promoter Rally USA Project Leader, said
Photo: FIA
