Breaking into the US market has been identified as a key objective by the WRC, having last hosted a round in North America in 1988 – the Olympus Rally.
Last year, plans to revive Rally USA emerged with a brand new event located in Chattanooga in southeast Tennessee, utilising gravel roads located in in the Cherokee National Forest and around the Ocoee River region in Polk County.
The planning committee for the project features an experienced group of rally competitors and organisers, while also benefitting from the support of the American Rally Association (ARA), Chattanooga Tourism, the State of Tennessee, regional governments and private sponsors.
A demonstration event was held in September last year which was observed by the FIA’s safety delegate Michele Mouton. Another event is now planned for 14-16 June that will mimic a WRC event schedule to some degree with organisers hoping to attract overseas privateers.
It is hoped a candidate rally can be held next year ahead of a possible inclusion on the 2026 WRC calendar.
Insight: Why Rally USA could be a gamechanger for WRC
A contingent from Rally USA, led by rally manager Stuart Wood, attended last weekend’s WRC season opener in Monte Carlo as part of a fact-finding mission.
“We have to do a series of events to build,” Wood told Autosport.
“We had an event in the fall [Autumn] that was small, we have a number of training events.
Source: Autosport