WRC Set for U.S. Return After 40 Years, New Rally Expected in 2027

The World Rally Championship (WRC) could be making a comeback to the United States! It has been nearly 40 years since the WRC last raced on American soil, with its most recent event being the 1988 Olympus Rally in Washington State. This June, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) will travel to the U.S. to hold a "candidate event," evaluating rally stages and infrastructure in Kentucky and Tennessee while engaging in in-depth discussions with the American Rally Association (ARA), fans, and local organizers. If all goes well, the WRC could officially return to the U.S. calendar as early as 2027. This move would not only reinvigorate interest in domestic rallying but could also encourage automakers to launch more rally-inspired production models—such as the highly anticipated return of the Subaru STI.