One of the World’s Greatest Motorsports Spectacles Could Be Returning to America

It’s been almost four decades since the FIA World Rally Championship held an event on American soil.

Rally car with Red Bull and Kenya HY logos kicking up dirt on a dusty off-road track.

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Published February 4, 2026

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Updated February 10, 2026

Move over Formula One. The FIA World Rally Championship officially announced its potential return to US soil after a nearly 40-year hiatus.

The worldly governing body for the biggest motorsports events recently released a statement confirming its Stateside revival. To kick off the effort, it’ll be holding a preliminary “candidate event” in Kentucky and Tennessee. This candidate assessment will then potentially pave way for larger full scale events in 2027.

Not only does this mark the first time the WRC would be holding events in the States in 38 years. It’ll join the growing list of popular automotive competition events in America, alongside Formula One, Formula E, Formula D and so-on.

A showcase of the most skilled off-road drivers in the world

Blue and yellow Subaru rally car kicking up dirt as it speeds around a gravel road corner in a forested area. The car features sponsor logos including Red Bull, Subaru, Yokohama, and Motul, with gold wheels and a large rear spoiler. Dust and gravel spray behind the car, emphasizing its motion. — Subaru is one of the automakers most associated with the WRC as of late.

Many will adamantly argue that Formula One drivers are the best in the world. But there are also equally as many who will vouch for WRC drivers being the best. It’s one of the oldest debates since the dawn of either leagues.

That’s because both races feature the most skilled drivers ever to roam the planet. Formula One and WRC are often referred to as the two pinnacles of racing.

Red rally car with number 1 racing on a snowy mountain road with pine trees and spectators on a hill. — Mitsubishi is also one of the most prominent marques in WRC history.

Both events demand the highest levels of aptitude and proficiency behind the wheel. However, they go about them in complete different ways.

F1 drivers require the utmost precision when racing on paved surfaces. Because they average speeds that match the top runs of most supercars, such skillsets put them in a master class of their own.

Audi rally car splashing water while driving on a dirt road lined with spectators. — Audi put itself in the global spotlight in the 1980s from its major wins in the WRC.

WRC drivers on the other hand need to be the fastest they can be on unpaved and paved surfaces. And that makes them absolute masters in car control.

Because both Formula One and the World Rally Championship both showcase the best drivers in the world, they make for some of the most exciting spectator events as well.

Some of the biggest names and cars in motorsports come from WRC

Blue Red Bull rally car splashing water on a dirt track, front view. — The WRC is still alive and well in Europe, Asia and Africa.

If you’re familiar with famous professional drivers like Travis Pastrana, Walter Röhrl and the late Ken Block, they’re all iconic figures who made their names known in the world of professional rally driving.

Others include Carlos Sainz, Sébastien Loeb, Tommi Mäkinen, Walter Röhrl, Michele Mouton, Sebastian Ogier and the late Colin McRae.

Blue and black Hyundai rally car with Shell and Hankook logos drifting on snowy road with snow-covered trees in background. — Winter rally competition events are some of the most thrilling of the breed.

The WRC is also the same league that gave us some of history’s greatest performance cars. Anyone familiar with the Group B class rally stages in the 1980s, Group A in the 1990s and the “2.0-liter” era in the 2000s would know about some of the iconic homologated machines.

Although not the same as the World Rally Championship, America has its own rally league called the Rally America National Championship. However, nothing can compare with the WRC, which is the cream of the crop.

Citroën rally car with Red Bull and Total logos kicking up dust on a dirt track with spectators behind.

The last WRC race in America took place in 1988. But due to rising costs challenges, lacking infrastructure and shift in focus on the European market, the WRC pulled out.

“The United States represents one of the most important growth opportunities for the FIA World Rally Championship,” FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem said in his official statement.

“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.”

About the Author: Chris Chin is an associate editor at Gear Patrol, covering cars, trucks and anything else with four wheels. He has over a decade of experience writing news and reviews but considers himself an enthusiast first, with a passion for classics and European cars. His daily driver is a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL with nearly 250,000 miles (87,000 are his).

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