WRC
WRC sets course for USA return with 2026 candidate event
The FIA World Rally Championship, working in collaboration with the FIA, ACCUS and Podium Events, has taken a step towards a return to the United States with a WRC candidate event confirmed for June.
Running from 11 - 17 June, the candidate event will be assessed against full WRC standards across stages in Tennessee and Kentucky, as part of a structured process that could open the door to a full WRC round from 2027.
The trial event will be delivered in collaboration with the Automobile Competition Committee of the United States (ACCUS) and closely evaluated by FIA delegates, covering all aspects of rally delivery including sporting operations, safety, infrastructure and event promotion.
Alongside stage and service park assessments, the programme will include engagement with the American rally community through a visit to a round of the American Rally Association (ARA) National Championship, as well as meetings with proposed promoter Podium Event Partners, which brings experience from multiple areas of U.S. motor sport.
The move underlines the championship’s long-term ambition to expand its global footprint and establish a sustainable presence in one of the world’s most significant motor sport markets.
From the championship’s perspective, Rally USA project leader Marc de Jong highlighted the significance of the announcement.
“Plans to bring WRC back to the USA have been germinating for some time and the confirmation of this candidate event marks a major milestone,” he said. “It is a significant step in the championship’s much-anticipated return to the U.S., after an absence of nearly 40 years.”
FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said the United States represented a key growth opportunity for the championship.
“The United States represents one of the most important growth opportunities for the FIA World Rally Championship,” he said. “It is a nation where motor sport is part of the cultural DNA, home to world-class domestic championships and a rapidly growing appetite for global competition.
“Expanding the WRC into North America would not only elevate the championship’s global reach, but unite rallying with a knowledgeable, passionate and expanding fanbase in a market where participation and fan engagement continue to accelerate.”
© ARA
FIA Deputy President for Sport Malcolm Wilson described the candidate event as a critical step in evaluating the proposed event concept.
“The confirmation of a FIA World Rally Championship candidate event in the United States is an important milestone and a first step towards bringing the championship to the country,” Wilson said. “It offers a valuable opportunity to assess the proposed stages and service park concept while working closely with ACCUS and the event organisers to ensure it meets WRC standards.”
Local promoter and Podium Event Partners CEO Matt Crews added that the project had the potential to deliver a world-class event for fans, manufacturers and partners, saying: “The FIA World Rally Championship delivers an unparalleled fan experience and a powerful global platform for manufacturers and corporate sponsors, while showcasing host regions on a world stage like nothing else in sport. The United States is ready to return to the WRC calendar and host an event that doesn’t just meet expectations - it redefines them. This represents a decisive step in making that vision a reality.”
The United States last hosted a World Rally Championship round in 1988 when the Olympus Rally formed part of the global calendar.
