Scotland to host World Rally Championship race

The World Rally Championship will return to the UK for the first time in eight years when the north-east of Scotland hosts a round in 2027.

The inaugural WRC Rally Scotland will be headquartered in Aberdeen and contested in the forests of Aberdeenshire for the next three years, after a deal was struck with Motorsport UK.

It follows funding support from the Scottish Government, Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council.

The new event will be the first time a full round of the WRC will be staged solely in Scotland and the first time since 2019 the UK will host an event.

The last time it made an appearance in Scotland was in 1995 when the RAC Rally made a foray in to the Borders, and in 1992 the nation hosted a full stage.

David Richards, the chairman of Motorsport UK, said bringing the championship and the world's best drivers back to the UK is "very meaningful".

"Rally Scotland will bring the world's best drivers back to British stages, but it will also be more than a rally," Richards said.

"It's an opportunity to showcase the passion of our rally community and demonstrate how motorsport can contribute to innovation, sustainability and inspiring the next generation to get involved in our sport."

This year's World Rally Championship is being contested over 14 rounds, across four continents.

While the calendar for next year has still to be finalised, the new Scottish event is expected to be allocated an autumn slot.

It has been estimated that hosting Rally Scotland could be worth as much as £80m to the local economy.

The Scottish Government's Minister for Business, Richard Lochhead, described it as "a huge moment for Scottish motorsport".

"It is also an opportunity to attract thousands of visitors, teams and fans from around the world, bringing significant benefits boosting local and national economies," he added.

The UK has played a major role in the history of the WRC since it began in the 1970s.

In 1995 Scotland's Colin McRae, co-driven by Derek Ringer, became the first Briton to win the World Rally Championship title after a dramatic finale on home soil.

Then in 2001, England's Richard Burns, alongside Scottish co-driver Robert Reid, secured the crown in another tense Rally GB decider.