The USA is on track to affix the World Rally Championship calendar in 2026 following affirmation {that a} multi-year contract has been signed to convey rallying’s prime flight again to North America.
The WRC has lengthy held an ambition to return to the US for the primary time for the reason that 1988 Olympus Rally, with the venture a key a part of its plan to develop the class.
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Final yr, the championship introduced it had developed a “clear roadmap” to attaining a USA occasion in 2026 that included direct funding and involvement in occasion promotion from WRC Promoter.
Talking at this weekend’s Rally Islas Canarias, the WRC confirmed that there’s a multi-year contract in place to host a gravel rally based mostly out of Tennessee. The US becoming a member of the WRC calendar is nonetheless topic to the FIA approving the proposed 2026 calendar.
The trail to the 2026 calendar is at present being mentioned with the nationwide federation ACCUS and the sanctioning physique, USA. Satisfying their necessities and considerations are additionally an vital issue within the assembly the timetable.
WRC occasion director Simon Larkin revealed in a media roundtable that the WRC Promoter has already dedicated a direct monetary funding into the venture.
Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1Toyota Racing
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Indonesia, Eire and Scotland unlikely to affix in 2026
Curiosity in internet hosting WRC occasions continues to be excessive with Indonesia, Eire and Scotland amongst a gaggle of a minimum of six international locations vying to affix the calendar subsequent yr.
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Larkin says at this level it’s unlikely that any new occasion outdoors of the US will characteristic in subsequent yr’s calendar.
“I might say, most likely no [for any other new countries to join in 2026]. In the mean time we have now sufficient occasions contracted and we’re working with all of them for 2027,” Larkin mentioned.
“Till all the things is completed, we nonetheless have a lot of small contracts to get carried out and that’s our precedence. However we have now to be lifelike, it’s the finish of April now and the calendar to be carried out in July, it must be one thing fairly groundbreaking from both of these [countries wishing to join].
“For Indonesia it was at all times going to be a stretch for 2026, they’re formidable however we’re additionally fairly calm and regular and need to have an precise technique for implementation.
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“We need to do this stuff fastidiously and we have now been doing that with the US for a time period.
“Whether or not it’s the US or Indonesia or Eire or Scotland we need to go there to verify there’s an occasion price going there for not simply to tick a field as a result of it’s a explicit nation.
“We have to have sustainable occasions and occasions which might be going to develop which have the resourcing, and have the budgets.”
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