In autumn 2027, the world’s leading rally drivers, teams and manufacturers will head to the north-east of Scotland for the country’s first ever round of the FIA World Rally Championship.
And the build-up to Rally Scotland 2027 gathered real momentum this week, with the launch of the event’s new identity and confirmation of a major BBC broadcast agreement that will put the FIA World Rally Championship, and Scotland, in front of a huge UK audience.
The event will be based around Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, with Rally HQ and the Service Park at P&J Live at TECA, and competition taking place on the roads and forests of the north-east.
Those forests are already familiar to generations of Scottish competitors, marshals, officials and volunteers. In 2027, they will become the focus of the international rallying world.
Behind the scenes, a huge amount of planning is already under way to turn Rally Scotland from an announcement into a World Championship event.
Many experienced officials from across Scottish motorsport are already contributing to that work, alongside colleagues from Motorsport UK, the WRC, and the event organising team. Their knowledge of our events, our roads, our forests and the practical realities of delivering motorsport in Scotland will be an important part of making Rally Scotland a success.
Scotland on the BBC
The scale of the opportunity became even clearer with confirmation that the World Rally Championship will return to the BBC from 2027.
A new three-year broadcast agreement will see live WRC coverage available to UK audiences across the BBC, including BBC iPlayer, with live stages and highlights from rounds throughout the championship.
For Rally Scotland itself, the coverage will be even more extensive, with live broadcasting planned across all four days of the event.
That means people across Scotland and the rest of the UK, as well as audiences much further afield, will be able to watch some of the world’s best drivers competing on Scottish roads and forests, with our country at the centre of a World Championship event.
A Scottish identity for a world event
Rally Scotland has now unveiled its new visual identity, giving the event a distinctive Scottish look as preparations continue.
At its heart is a stylised Saltire formed from the impression of a rally car tyre tread, combining the Scottish flag with the surface that will define much of the competition.
The new blue, white and purple branding will become increasingly visible as the event builds towards 2027, appearing across everything from event signage and digital platforms, to clothing, spectator areas and official material.
A huge opportunity for Scottish motorsport
The arrival of the WRC will bring international teams, competitors, media, sponsors and spectators to Scotland, but its impact has the potential to reach much further than the few days of competition.
For Scotland’s motor clubs, marshals, officials, volunteers and competitors, Rally Scotland represents an extraordinary opportunity.
It is a chance to showcase the strength of Scottish motorsport and the enormous amount of work that happens throughout the year to make our sport possible.
It is also an opportunity to inspire the next generation.
For young people watching from spectator areas, following the event online or seeing rallying on the BBC, Rally Scotland could provide their first real introduction to the sport. Some may go on to become competitors, engineers, officials, marshals or volunteers themselves.
That legacy could be every bit as important as the rally itself.
The countdown is under way
There is still a great deal of work to be done before the first car leaves the start line.
Routes, spectator arrangements, volunteering opportunities and many of the operational details will continue to develop over the months ahead.
But the direction is now very clear.
Rally Scotland has its identity. The broadcast platform is in place. Planning is accelerating.
And for the Scottish motorsport community, the prospect is becoming increasingly exciting.
For a country with such a proud rallying history, this is our opportunity to welcome the world and show it what Scottish motorsport can do.
