The WRC is returning to the US in 2027, and further details have now been confirmed: Knoxville will be the rally’s hub, with the ceremonial start taking place in Nashville
Knoxville will be the host city for the long-awaited return of the World Rally Championship (WRC) to the USA next year. The organisers have announced further details regarding Rally USA, which is scheduled to take place from 26 to 29 August 2027 as the eleventh round of the WRC season.
Knoxville, in the state of Tennessee, will serve as the headquarters for the gravel rally. The service park, known as the WRC Arena, the team base and the fan festival will be set up at World’s Fair Park and the adjacent Convention Centre.
The ceremonial start will take place on Lower Broadway in Nashville. The street has previously been the venue for major events and performances by well-known artists.
The rally runs through Tennessee and Kentucky
The route passes through a total of 15 counties in Tennessee and Kentucky. The special stages run through the Appalachian Mountains to the Cumberland Plateau. Fast gravel roads, technically demanding forest sections and significant changes in altitude are set to present the WRC teams with new challenges.
The Governor of Tennessee, Bill Lee, welcomes the return of the World Championship: “I am delighted to welcome the FIA World Rally Championship back to the United States for the first time in almost 40 years. I am even more delighted that Tennessee will be hosting this historic return in 2027.”
The WRC regards the USA as a key growth market
The United States has long been regarded by the WRC as a key market for expanding the championship’s reach. The inclusion of Rally USA was a key reason for expanding the calendar to 15 rounds next season.
“The United States has long been a priority for the WRC. Knoxville, along with the roads in Tennessee and Kentucky, offer us a spectacular and challenging setting,” explains Eric Boullier, CEO of the WRC promoter.