Here is the news we have been waiting for: rallying is heading back to the BBC. A brand new three-year agreement has been secured to broadcast the FIA World Rally Championship across the United Kingdom, bringing live coverage from every round straight to audiences from 2027 through to 2029.
That said, this is not just about catching the highlights on a screen. The coverage will be delivered as a collaboration between BBC Scotland, BBC Cymru Wales and BBC Northern Ireland, combining expertise, talent and shared resources from across the Nations. Fans will be able to follow all the action on BBC iPlayer, alongside digital rights that enable content to be shared across other BBC platforms.
Let us look at what is actually included in the package. Each season will feature selected live stages including the decisive Wolf Power Stage on all WRC rounds, 60-minute highlights programmes from every round, and digital clips, highlights and additional content across BBC platforms. Most importantly, it includes extensive live coverage of Rally Scotland across all four days of competition as the Aberdeenshire-based event makes its WRC debut in 2027. It will mark the first time the UK has hosted a WRC round since 2019.
Rhuanedd Richards, Director, BBC Nations, said: “This is a fantastic addition to our sports portfolio with teams across Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland coming together to bring audiences one of the world's most thrilling motorsport championships. The World Rally Championship combines elite sporting competition with dramatic locations and compelling stories, making it a natural fit for the BBC.
"The return of Rally Scotland to the WRC calendar is particularly exciting and we look forward to capturing all the thrills and excitement for audiences when it kicks off next year.”
Éric Boullier, CEO of WRC Promoter, added: “Our partnership with the BBC marks an important step in our strategy to grow the WRC’s reach and visibility in the UK. The BBC is one of the country’s most trusted and influential media organisations, and its powerful combination of television, digital and social platforms gives us a unique opportunity to reconnect with existing rally fans while introducing the championship to a new generation. With Rally Scotland joining the calendar next year, the timing could not be better to strengthen the WRC’s presence in such an important and historic market for rallying.”
Hugh Chambers, CEO of Motorsport UK, the organisation behind Rally Scotland, noted: “Bringing the World Rally Championship back to the UK is a major moment for our sport, and this BBC agreement gives it the national platform it deserves. Free-to-air coverage will help us reach long-standing fans, welcome new audiences and show why the WRC’s return in 2027 is such an important step for British motorsport.”
The full 2027 WRC calendar is set to be announced in the near future.
