WRC Returns to U.S. in 2027, Ford Set for Home Turf Debut

If you've been waiting for world-class rally racing to come back to the U.S., the wait is almost over. Car and Driver reports that the World Rally Championship will hold its first American round in late August 2027.

The event, tentatively called Rally US, is expected to run from August 26 to 29. The route will likely center on the Knoxville, Tennessee area and cross into Kentucky, though the WRC hasn't announced an official location yet. Scout teams visited both states this summer.

"It's a huge win for American rally fans, but it's also a win for Ford," Car and Driver notes.

Ford has been involved with the WRC since the series launched in 1973. The automaker entered Escorts and Capris in that first Monte Carlo rally, with three of 21 entries finishing. The best placed Ford landed fourth behind a pack of Alpine-Renaults. Over the decades, Ford teams have racked up plenty of WRC wins, even after losing full factory backing in 2013 and shifting to a semi-privateer model.

But Ford recently announced a return to full factory support starting in 2028, with a brand-new WRC car coming in 2029. That timing puts the automaker on home soil for the 2027 Rally US event, a rare opportunity for American fans to see a U.S.-based manufacturer compete at the highest level.

The American Rally Association currently dominates the U.S. rally scene with a more grassroots feel. Subaru, Hyundai, and Toyota lead the ARA field. Apart from Ford, American automakers never fully embraced rally. General Motors backed Opel in the 1980s and gave limited support to Chevy Sonic and Cruze rally efforts, but Stellantis’ U.S. brands have stayed out, even though its global brands include historic rally winners like Lancia and Peugeot.

Ticket sales haven't opened yet; they'll be announced closer to the event. For now, mark your calendar for late August 2027 and plan a trip to Tennessee if you want to see world-class gravel and tarmac racing on American soil.

• Ford
• Knoxville
• Rally US
• World Rally Championship
• WRC