Aberdeenshire to play star role in World Rally Championship from 2027
The FIA World Rally Championship will return to the UK in 2027 with a new event - 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.
Paul Macari, Head of Planning and Economy at Aberdeenshire Council, commented: “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome this landmark motorsport event to our stunning corner of Scotland. We’re incredibly proud to be showcasing to the world everything which makes this region so special - from the warm hospitality of our towns and villages to the breathtaking scenery which defines our landscape.
"This event will shine a well‑deserved spotlight on Aberdeenshire and, above all, it promises a huge boost to our local economy – supporting businesses, inspiring future generations and creating a lasting legacy which will be felt long after the chequered flag falls."
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 key national and regional partners, including VisitScotland and Visit Aberdeenshire, 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.
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.”
Malcolm Wilson OBE, Deputy President for Sport at motorsport's governing body, the FIA, added: “This is a huge announcement for the FIA World Rally Championship, it really demonstrates the positive direction we are now taking. The United Kingdom has incredible heritage and passion for our sport, and the return of a flagship world championship event in Scotland 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 competing 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 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.”
Further details, including route information, stage locations and opportunities for local businesses and volunteers to get involved, will be announced in the coming months.