FIA conclude Rally Scotland WRC candidate event
15th August 2026FIA have confirmed they have concluded the candidate event for Rally Scotland’s chance to join the World Rally Championship.
Feature image credit: FIA
On Friday, the FIA confirmed it has concluded the candidate event for Rally Scotland, assessing the event’s readiness for a potential slot in the 2027 WRC calendar.
According to the FIA, it was a four-day assessment period which also consisted of the Grampian Forest Rally, as it took part in the Probite British Rally Championship last week.
They also checked over a series of factors of the event, including the sport, safety and operational capabilities for hosting a WRC round, based around Banchory, in Aberdeenshire.
On the announcement, FIA Deputy President for Sport, Malcolm Wilson said:
“Bringing the FIA World Rally Championship back to the United Kingdom is a hugely important step for global rallying. The UK is one of motor sport’s historic heartlands, with a deep passion for rallying and a strong connection to the FIA WRC.
“To see the championship return to my home nation for the first time since 2019 will be particularly special. I have seen first-hand the quality of rallying in Scotland and know just how demanding and spectacular these stages can be.
“They rank among the very best in the world, and there is a real appetite among fans to see the world’s best crews competing on them once again.”
As part of the assessment, the FIA spent two days at the Grampian Rally, working closely with Motorsport UK and local organisers, assessing preparations for the proposed WRC round.
Part of their assessment allowed the delegation to see how the competitors tackled the forest roads which were proposed to be part of the 2027 route.
A further two days were used to visit additional stages and locations which are proposed for the 2027 event, whilst assessing wider routes and infrastructure to support a WRC round.
They looked at the proposed event headquarters at the P&J Live in Aberdeen, as well as locations which were being considered for the Service Park and ceremonial start.
“The FIA Candidate Event was a valuable step for Rally Scotland and a positive moment for the wider UK rallying community,” said Hugh Chambers, Chief Executive Officer of Motorsport UK. “Over four days, the FIA delegation saw the strength of the route, the quality of the facilities in Aberdeen and the commitment behind this project.
“The Grampian Forest Rally gave us a useful early look at the roads that will help shape Rally Scotland: fast, flowing gravel stages with real character.
“We are grateful to the FIA delegation for the time, care and expertise they brought to the assessment, and to the organisers, marshals, volunteers, crews and spectators who supported the event.
“We now look forward to working with the FIA through the post-event reporting process and towards the long-awaited return of the FIA World Rally Championship to the UK.”
Following the event’s conclusion, the FIA will now finalise the delegates’ reports and share its findings with the respective stakeholders. As such, it will mark the next step for Rally Scotland in the process to be part of the WRC.
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Hi, I’m Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion.
I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I’ve loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
Kamron Kent
Hi, I'm Kamron. I created ApexMotorsports.co.uk in the dying embers of the 2021 Formula 1 world championship. It allowed me freedom to write whatever I wanted to write about which was all things motorsports, my passion. I have put a lot of effort in over the years to keep this website in its best shape and I've loved seeing the brand grow consistently, month-on-month, year-on-year. My ambition is to keep watching this brand grow into a primary outlet of news for all things motorsports whilst fueling my desire to pursue a career in sports journalism, specialising in motorsports.
