WRC signs new deal to race in Portugal until at least 2028

Portugal will continue to host a round of the World Rally Championship until 2028 at least after signing a new multi-year contract.

Rally Portugal is one of the founding members of the WRC hosting a round since the inaugural championship season in 1973, and has only been absent from the schedule during a brief hiatus from 2002-2006.

Organisers have today announced that the rally has inked a new three-year deal ensuring its future for 2026, 2027 and 2028.

“This is very good news for the organisation and for all the mayors who trust us to bring this fantastic rally to the interior of the country, for the fans and for the economy” said ACP President Carlos Barbosa. “The confidence of WRC Promoter is also very important, so we are very glad to push for another three years of the rally.”

WRC event director Simon Larkin says Portugal continues to be an important round for the championship following last weekend’s edition that welcomed more than 500,000 fans. While the rally remains one of the best supported on the calendar, a punishing three-day itinerary drew criticism from drivers which could lead to changes for next year’s event.

“We only need to look around us here [in Fafe, on the Wolf Power Stage] to see what an important spectacle this is – sporting, promotional and spectator-wise. This is an important event for us. This is an important step for the WRC and for Portugal,” said Larkin.

Winners Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Photo by: Toyota Racing

“It [the rally] involves a lot of different stakeholders – municipalities and tourism bodies – that really support this event and make it what it is. President Barbosa does a great job bringing them together to create this great rally that everyone in the WRC loves.”

Confirmation of Portugal’s new deal is the latest step in forming next year’s calendar which the WRC is planning to finalise in July.

It has already been announced that Croatia is set to rejoin the WRC scheduled from next year after dropping to the European Rally Championship this season.

The WRC's other major target for 2026 is to complete a deal to return to the USA for the first time since 1988. As previously reported, a contract is in place for a gravel event based out of Tennessee but it is subject to approval by the FIA, ACCUS (Automobile Competition Committee for the United States) and the USA’s sanctioning body.