How Scotland ended the WRC’s seven-year GB hiatus

After several attempts, the World Rally Championship will finally return to Great Britain next year, and it is all down to a new strategy, according to Motorsport UK chairman David Richards.

Over the last seven years there have been bids to rekindle a WRC event in Wales and even bring the championship to Northern Ireland, but all proposals have been unable to get over the line, with securing government funding cited as the key reason. 

Monday's announcement that an all-new gravel rally based out of Aberdeen in Scotland has scored a three-year deal to host a WRC round from 2027 to 2029, and funding from the Scottish Government, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council, is a significant moment for not only British rallying, but British motorsport.

So why was the Rally Scotland bid successful?

“It is not just the work of a moment. It has gone back seven years since we had Wales Rally GB," Richards explains to Autosport.

“We tried to keep it going in Wales for some time there. We did everything we could there, unfortunately, to no avail. We've had abortive looks at Northern Ireland for a while. But all along, to be honest with you, Scotland has been very enthusiastic and very supportive, and whether it’s local government, regional government, the Aberdeen Council, all of them have been exceptional in their enthusiasm.

“I think we've tapped into a receptive body of people there [at Scottish Government] who've looked very openly at the economic impact.”

Former Subaru WRC boss and 1981 WRC co-drivers’ champion, Richards, says that Motorsport UK’s feasibility studies carried out for the Rally Scotland project indicated that Aberdeen hosting a WRC round could generate as much as €100 million to the regional economy.

Richards reckons the new WRC event will boost the local Aberdeen economy

Photo by: Simon Galloway / LAT Images via Getty Images

But it is a holistic approach ensuring that Rally Scotland makes a positive impact in multiple areas of the local communities and region, rather than just being “a motorsport event”, that has been key in securing the green light.   

“There's no getting away from the fact that funding in motorsport is never straightforward. It’s got slightly more difficult over the years,” he said. “I think one of the things we've been very clear about though is this is not just a motorsport event. This brings a whole range of benefits to the region. 

“We've really played a lot on our sustainability credentials in motorsport. We have got to behave correctly and if we want to go into the forests, and if we want to do things like this, in the future, we're going to have to be more recognising of those issues. 

“We've got to bring other things to the region. We've got to bring an economic impact to rural environments. It's critical. You bring people to fill hotel rooms, and you look at things we can do with education and STEM subjects. So, it crosses boundaries, you can't just look at this and say I'm coming with my world rally championship. So, it's a holistic approach, and great credit to all the guys that, the girls there at Motorsport UK, they've approached it in that manner, and done a very good job.”

Aberdeen’s location and infrastructure, including its international airport, has also played a key role in bringing the WRC back to British shores. The city’s £300 million fan friendly P&J Live at The Event Complex Aberdeen (TECA) facility will act as the rally headquarters with the service park completely indoors. There is also the prospect of the arena potentially hosting a spectator stage in addition to the nearby gravel stages.  

“The roads there are ideal and are in very close proximity to Aberdeen as well, It [Aberdeen] is also a community that's steeped in rally history,” said Richards.

“We're not just looking at [hosting the WRC for] three years, we would very much hope this is the start of a new beginning for the World Rally Championship back in the UK.”

WRC has missed the UK market since 2019

Britain was last on the WRC calendar in 2019

Photo by: Sutton Images

Soaring interest from nations wishing to host WRC rounds has created a good problem for the championship as it looks to grow rallying globally. 

Last year the WRC welcomed three new rallies with the Canary Islands being elevated from the European Rally Championship while brand news events in Paraguay and Saudi Arabia joined the fold.

The WRC has made its wish to host a round in USA clear with an event tipped to join the 2027 calendar while Ireland and Indonesia have also recently raised their hands wishing to join future calendars. 

However, since Wales Rally GB dropped off the calendar it is no secret that the WRC has wanted to return to Britain given its rally heritage and the fact it remains a key market for the championship. But it wasn’t going to return for the sake of ticking that box, it had to be something special and the WRC is convinced this Rally Scotland project is that.

"I have nothing but praise for the team at Motorsport UK for the determination and ambition and what they have been able to put together in the UK which is traditionally very difficult to get government funding from for events," said Simon Larkin,  WRC Promoter senior events director.

“We have seen that with Silverstone and a number of things they have never received government money. So the fact they have been able to put together such a great option and proposal and something we have contributed as much as we can for them, but they have done all the heavy lifting, and it is really exciting. 

“It has been one of those markets where I think we [the WRC] have missed since 2019. We have M-Sport, Elfyn Evans and Elliott Edmondson. It is a key European market and we have missed it. 

“In a city like Aberdeen, it is a great size, a great opportunity and a great catchment of people and amazing roads.    

“We are not bringing back the UK for the sake of bringing back the UK, we are bringing back the UK with a really amazing event opportunity.”

Rally Scotland is expected to secure an autumnal date on the 2027 WRC calendar.

The 2026 WRC standings is currently led by Welshman Elfyn Evans

Photo by: Toyota Racing