Motorsport UK has confirmed that the FIA World Rally Championship will return to the UK from 2027 with a brand-new event: Rally Scotland.
Following funding agreements with the Scottish Government, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council, Motorsport UK has agreed terms with WRC Promoter GmbH for an initial three-year agreement from 2027 to 2029, bringing the world’s best rally drivers back to British stages.
For decades, the UK was a cornerstone of the WRC calendar. From the legendary RAC Rally through to Wales Rally GB, Britain’s forests have played host to some of the sport’s most iconic moments, inspiring champions including Colin McRae, Richard Burns and Robert Reid.
Now, after a seven-year absence, the championship is returning. Motorsport UK Chair David Richards says:
“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.”
Hugh Chambers, Motorsport UK CEO, adds:
“Bringing the FIA World Rally Championship back to the UK has been a priority for Motorsport UK, and Rally Scotland is the result of strong collaboration between national and local partners who share our ambition to deliver a world-class event. It represents an important moment for the sport in the UK – reconnecting the championship with our passionate rally community while creating new opportunities for competitors, volunteers and fans.”
Based in Aberdeen, Rally Scotland will feature spectacular forest gravel stages across North-East Scotland alongside fan-friendly city stages designed to bring the sport closer to spectators. Rally HQ and the service park will be located at the world-class P&J Live at The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA) arena complex.
Rally Scotland represents more than the return of a world championship event. It will provide a global platform to showcase the wider impact motorsport can have across innovation, sustainability, community engagement and inclusion.
The FIA World Rally Championship already competes using 100% fossil-free fuel, and Rally Scotland will shine a spotlight on the rapidly growing sustainable fuel sector in North-East Scotland. The event will also highlight how motorsport can drive progress in technology, engineering and future mobility.
Alongside the sporting spectacle, a wide range of programmes will be delivered to support community engagement, education and volunteer development, helping inspire the next generation of competitors, engineers and officials.
Initiatives will include STEM programmes for young people, diversity and inclusion projects such as Girls on Track and Race for Diversity, and opportunities for volunteers and motorsport clubs to be part of delivering a world-class international event.
