World Rally Championship event director Simon Larkin has provided an exciting update on the hopes to expand into the USA.
The WRC is aiming to improve its global reach and host events in new corners of the world.
The 2025 season will be a huge step towards that with the calendar expanding to 14 rallies, including a return to Las Palmas in Spain, as well as new events in Paraguay and an unprecedented WRC 10-year deal in Saudi Arabia.
But a rally in the United States is the aim for organisers, and speaking with BlackBook Motorsport, Larkin revealed that an event is on the cards for the future.
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Simon Larkin says a rally in the United States ‘will happen’
The WRC is hoping to emulate the success of Formula 1 in the States with owners Liberty Media, as they run three races in Miami, Texas and Las Vegas on the calendar.
Rumours have speculated that the championship’s promoters are looking at selling the business in a multi-million-pound deal as they strive to expand the calendar further.
There has not been a rally in the US since 1988 in Washington, but Larkin is confident that an event in the nation in 2026 ‘will happen.’
“It will happen,” he said. “We have a great relationship with Tennessee, with Chattanooga, with Nashville, and there is significant support coming from there.
“The US is not like other markets where there is any government that will be willing to underwrite an event to the extent…that we require in other parts of the world, it’s never going to happen.
“It did take a while for us to convince our board of that, but now they’re onboard, so we know we’re going to have to refinance it. We’re already a long way down the road with a naming rights partner, which takes away from some of our underwriting.
“Even if it’s not a profit maker, if it’s washing its face, brilliant. It’s no different to what Formula One had to do. Miami is a joint venture, the confidence they got from a joint venture, which is how we’re running in the US with a promoter, gave them the confidence to back themselves for Las Vegas. I think that’s probably the level we’ll get to.”
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The 2024 WRC title is still all to play for
As the excitement for the 2025 season is rife, attention is also on the 2024 title as the championship heads into the final four rounds.
Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville leads the standings by 27 points as he eyes his first WRC title.
Sebastien Ogier looks set to compete in the final rallies of the year as he sits second and is hunting a record-equalling ninth championship.
The WRC heads to Acropolis Rally Greece for round 10 of the championship on 5-8 September.