The return to North America
The 2026 World Championship has just opened with Oliver Solberg’s victory in the Monte Carlo Rally, the first round of the season, but the WRC is already looking to the future: after the contract renewal established with the Canary Islands Rally, the world championship is concretely aiming to welcome the United States back to the calendar. Proof came from the recent FIA statement, which officialized a candidate event for the WRC that will take place during this summer.
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The project
More specifically, the International Federation, in collaboration with the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States and Podium Events Partners, has established a schedule set from June 11 to 17. During this week, Federation delegates will evaluate special stages between Kentucky and Tennessee, as well as inspect every operational detail and safety protocols.
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The history
If all these tests pass the required criteria, the United States will be able to host a WRC round starting from 2027, nearly forty years after the last edition held. In the past, after the 1973-1974 biennium, the USA hosted the world championship for the last time in the period from 1986 to 1988: “The United States represents one of the most important growth opportunities for the FIA World Rally Championship – stated FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem – it is a nation where motorsport is an integral part of the cultural DNA. I am deeply committed to strengthening the FIA’s presence in the United States and ensuring that rallying becomes a fundamental pillar of this future.”
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