The World Rally Championship Could Return To The US After 40 Years

Formula One may get the global glory, but true motorsports fans know that rally drivers are some of the most skilled on the planet. The World Rally Championship (WRC) is a showcase of wild speed, tremendous ability, and furious action.

Sadly, the WRC calendar hasn’t had a race in the United States for decades. The last event held here was the 1988 Olympus Rally in Shelton, Washington. But that could soon change.

Officials from the FIA, the governing body of WRC and other high-level motorsport, will hold a “candidate event” in the US this June. The goal of the program is to explore a potential location for a future stage rally and to also meet with US rally fans, promoters, volunteers, and race organizers.

Here in the US, the largest group hosting rally races is the American Rally Association (ARA). It produces an excellent calendar filled with both national and regional events. This is the series where you could find Travis Pastrana battling David Higgins, Brandon Semenuk, and, at one time, Ken Block.

The sport has long been popular here in the US, despite the lack of a global WRC presence. The last few years have seen ARA push that love for rally even further.

Officials from the FIA will scout potential stages across Kentucky and Tennessee. They’ll examine the infrastructure there to ensure it’s capable of hosting an event.

The FIA officials will also attend an ARA race. During the event, they plan to sit down and talk with everyone who makes the US rallying community what it is today. And it’s no surprise to see the FIA interested in a WRC return to the States. After all, the growth of F1 here in the US has been a financial boon to the sport. FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said: 

‘The United States represents one of the most important growth opportunities for the FIA World Rally Championship,” according to FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem. “It is a nation where motor sport is part of the cultural DNA, with world-class domestic championships and a rapidly growing appetite for global competition.’

‘I am deeply committed to strengthening the FIA’s presence in the U.S. and ensuring that rallying becomes a defining pillar of that future.’

If the candidate event goes well, the WRC could see a US event on its calendar by 2027. Finger crossed.

Motor1’s take: A WRC return to the States will mark a glorious moment for rally fans here. The global stage of WRC has highlighted the beauty of wherever it races by allowing a top-level motorsport to deliver stunning action and visuals. This move could also strengthen the ARA’s appeal.

Even better is the idea that the average automotive enthusiast may see automakers take an interest in rally-inspired versions of their road cars. Subaru has to be drooling at this news, which means maybe we’ll finally see a real STI return.