What now for WRC event in Ireland after Rally Scotland announcement?

Fri, 20 Mar, 2026 - 07:21

Martin Walsh

Motorsport

Motorsport Ireland's bid for a round of the World Rally Championship now seems unlikely until 2030 at the earliest following an announcement that Rally Scotland is set to join the series next year, heralding a new era within the WRC.

The event will be based in north-east Scotland and Irish fans can make the relatively short trip across the Irish Sea for the gravel event that will be based at the state-of-the-art P&J Live complex in Aberdeen with the action on the stages in Aberdeenshire and Moray.

Rally Scotland has been secured through a partnership between Motorsport UK, WRC Promoter and the Scottish Government, with support from Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire councils. Their shared desire is to establish Rally Scotland as a major international sporting event that will yield "significant economic and tourism benefits for the region."

A Rally Scotland "Candidate Event" - essentially a trial run - will be held later this year and the event will then be submitted for approval on the WRC calendar by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

The agreement, initially a three-year deal beginning next year, will from a Motorsport UK perspective, end an eight-year sojourn from the WRC when Wales Rally GB last hosted a round of the WRC.

Many have been caught by surprise with the announcement but the Scottish organisers have been working behind the scenes for quite a while. Simon Larkin, Senior Events Director at WRC Promoter, said: “Since the FIA World Rally Championship last visited the UK in 2019, Motorsport UK and WRC Promoter have worked closely together to find the right pathway for its return. We have nothing but praise for the determination and hard work shown by Motorsport UK in bringing this project to life."

He added. “We’re delighted to be working alongside the Scottish Government and local authority partners to see this exciting initiative come to fruition - something that will benefit many and especially the passionate rally fans across the UK.”

So, where does this leave the Rally Ireland bid or is it being shelved? The Irish Examiner understands that is due to be discussed at the next meeting of the Motor Sport Council - having been deferred from its last meeting a few weeks ago.

There seems to be a school of thought that the bid should be paused. Indeed, it seems that the appetite for a WRC round is on the wane - based on the opinions from senior rally people. The Irish WRC bid is largely reliant on government funding - an on-line meeting of MI's affiliated clubs last Wednesday night didn't dwell on the possible implications. The Irish governing body have paused new appointments to its council and commissions in order to complete a review of the sport.

The heritage and passion for motorsport in the UK was one of the key factors as FIA Deputy President for Sport, Malcolm Wilson, said: “This is a huge announcement for the FIA World Rally Championship, it really demonstrates the positive direction we are now taking. The United Kingdom has incredible heritage and passion for our sport, and the return of a flagship world championship event in Scotland is the start of the next chapter in this long history. As we enter a new era for the WRC in 2027 with new regulations, more accessible cars and more crews competing at the sharp end, it’s fantastic to see the appetite is there from organisers, governments and of course the fans to put together new WRC events."

Meanwhile, Cavan's Craig Rahill (22) is returning to the European Rally Championship at the wheel of a KMS Racing prepared Ford Fiesta Rally3 for the five-round ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy and a Junior WRC campaign. Last year's ERC 'Rookie of the Year' will begin his bid on Rally Sierra Morena in mid-April with regular co-driver Conor Smith on the pacenotes. The winner of the ERC Fiesta Rally3 Trophy receive a Ford Fiesta Rally2 prize drive at JDS Machinery Rali Ceredigion in September. “The Rally3 Trophy will provide valuable seat time and mileage alongside the JWRC campaign. I’m delighted to be teaming up with KMS Racing for the season, they have a lot of experience with the Rally3 package and operate a very professional operation."