The FIA World Rally Championship will return to the UK in 2027 with a new event, WRC 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.
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 public sector partners to develop a new model for a UK event that is commercially strong, regionally valuable and aligned with the championship’s strategic direction.
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.
WRC 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.
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."
He added: “It’s certainly a lot more compact than it was in the old days. We won’t be going very far away from this centre (P&J Live) which is just the most remarkable base for a rally world championship event. All the teams will be housed inside in the underground car park and the spectators will be able to see the cars and see the teams in this arena.
“The forests are 20 minutes away from here. The best forests in the world are on your doorstep, I can promise you that. They are just superb and I’m sure people will be raving about them when the come here.
“I’m hopeful that we’re going to see a new resurgence of the World Rally Championship.
“We can do lots of things in a whole raft of areas, it’s a very flexible event that will bring investment into the area economy-wise, it will bring technology, it will bring interest in environmental issues here. We’re intent on it being a big, broad event, not just a pure motorsport event.”
Hugh Chambers, CEO of Motorsport UK, said: “This is not an event that takes place in a stadium or just one location, it takes place in the countryside and the fabric of the country. I think, for that reason, it showcases this extraordinary part of the world.
“This corner of Scotland has so much to offer and I think the WRC is going to unlock that very visually to audiences around the world.
"I feel very confident that the proposition of a rally in this part of the world is going to appeal to an extraordinary number of people, whether it’s the volunteer community which is so important and valuable, the commercial opportunities, the educational opportunities, and also the relationship with industry in this part of the world.”
Richard Lochhead MSP, Minister for Business and Employment, 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 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, and it really shows the positive direction of travel we are now taking. The United Kingdom has incredible heritage and passion for our sport, and the return of a flagship world championship event 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 fighting 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 in Scotland 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.”
He went on: “We have a proven economic impact study of a number of events of between €45million and €50million.
“What an opportunity this offers the region. We can have a footprint of sometimes up to about 100km.
“That’s 100km of hotels, 100km radius of restaurants, people coming through the airport.
“This is what we offer and we’re very proud of how we justify investment – we provide that return by multiples.
“We know the WRC can bring a lot to Scotland, but we also know that Scotland can bring a lot to the WRC.”
Malcolm Wilson OBE, Deputy President for Sport at motorsport’s governing body, the FIA, said: “This is the platform to build something very, very special for the future.
“The Scottish Rally was always my favourite event in the British championship, and some of the areas we’ll be going to with this rally will be truly amazing. It’s going to be a great event for fans as well.”
Julie Wood, Aberdeen City Council’s Chief Officer for City Growth and Regeneration, said: "The championship will deliver a major economic boost for Aberdeen, with millions in local spending and more than £80million projected for the North‑east over three years.
"Our engineering strengths and excellent infrastructure make the region an ideal host, giving us a platform to showcase the North‑east to a global audience of 1.3 billion.
"Alongside the sporting spectacle, previous events have delivered meaningful community benefits through Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) initiatives, volunteering and inclusion programmes, opening doors for people of all ages and backgrounds to get involved and share in a global event on their doorstep.”
Further details, including route information, stage locations, and opportunities for local businesses and volunteers to get involved, will be announced in the coming months.