UK viewers will once again be able to watch the World Rally Championship on the BBC, starting from 2027, as the broadcaster has secured a three-year broadcasting deal. This agreement puts an end to the championship’s long absence from British television screens, which began when the BBC stopped covering motorsport in the late 1990s. As part of the deal, the BBC will air live coverage of five stages from each event, including the final ‘Power Stage’, providing fans with extensive access to the competition.
Scotland’s return to the WRC calendar
In addition to the live stages, the BBC will also produce a 60-minute highlights package for 14 rounds of the championship, as well as provide digital clips and other content on its various platforms. The broadcaster will give special attention to Rally Scotland, with live coverage spanning the entire four-day event. This marks a significant change to the WRC calendar, as the UK has not hosted a top-level rally since 2019, and Scotland has not seen a WRC event since the 1995 Network Q RAC Rally, which was won by Colin McRae.
Prior to this, all WRC rounds held in the UK since 2000 were hosted in Wales. However, a new deal between Motorsport UK, the WRC organizers, and the BBC will bring Rally Scotland back to the calendar for at least three years, from 2027 to 2029, with stages taking place in Aberdeenshire’s forests. The return of Rally Scotland to the WRC calendar is a notable development, and the BBC’s coverage will provide fans with a unique opportunity to follow the action.
Technical updates for the 2027 season
The upcoming season will also see significant changes to the WRC’s technical regulations, including the introduction of a common spaceframe chassis for the new WRC27 Rally1 cars. Additionally, teams will be allowed to use WRC2 cars, provided they are fitted with a new WRC Kit, making them eligible to compete at the top level. These changes aim to reduce costs and make the WRC more appealing to car manufacturers, which currently only include Toyota as a participating OEM with a WRC27 Rally1 car.
However, other teams, such as M-Sport Ford, will join the competition using WRC2-specification cars fitted with a WRC Kit, along with privateer entries from Project Rally One and WRT Rally1 Spain. The free-to-air TV coverage provided by the BBC is expected to generate significant interest among motorsport fans, particularly with Welsh driver Elfyn Evans currently leading the 2026 championship standings. The combination of the BBC’s coverage and the changes coming to the WRC in 2027 is likely to create a thrilling experience for fans.