A return of the WRC to Great Britain thanks to Scotland?

Le WRC Will he cross the Channel for the first time since 2019 next season? This is more than just a rumour as Great Britain is really pushing to join the calendar in 2026. For a return of Wales?

Not quite. This time, it is Scotland that has taken matters into its own hands, in support of Motorsport UK, so that the World Rally Championship returns to the British island and Scottish soil, a first since 1992. This is what is reported The Scottish newspaper The Press and JournalIndeed, Alex McLellan, Aberdeen City Council's finance chief, unveiled the plans at the council's budget meeting, with discussions ongoing with Motorsport UK.

The aim of local councillors is to offer residents the opportunity to experience a high-level sporting event in the surrounding area, with the aim of securing a three-year contract starting in 2026. According to Alex McLellan's estimates, this could bring more than £80 million to the city, or just over €95 million.

« We have entered into discussions with Motorsport UK with the aim of securing a three-year deal to stage an event around the city of Aberdeen., McLellan explains. Our ambition is to work with them to see if Aberdeen can host the WRC, which would boost international investment, generate substantial local economic activity and create jobs. This would potentially deliver over £80 million of economic impact over our initial three-year period. »

WRC conquered, Aberdeen council a little less

Now the challenge is to turn this project into reality. However, this could prove more complicated than expected. Rob Wicks, managing director of P&J Live (an indoor venue for shows and events that can accommodate up to 15 people), acknowledged that Scotland has been " identified as the preferred destination " in the event of the WRC returning to Great Britain.

« I know they have looked at other parts of the UK but they really liked what they saw here.He says. It's amazing that we can be in the loop. The city, the county and the site (of the test) would all be winners. They are the key elements of this project and have a major role to play »

The idea would then be to make P&J Live the nerve centre of the event if it arrives on the calendar in 2026, with the service park, the media centre and the race direction combined.

However, not all municipal councillors are convinced by the project of a rally in Aberdeen. Richard Brooks, leader of the Conservative group, described the project as " chaotic ", attacking his rivals from the SNP-Lib Dems (Scottish Liberal Democrats).

« It is both remarkable and interesting that while the rest of the country is working to reduce its carbon footprint, the SNP-Lib Dems, out of nowhere, want to bring motorsport back to the city., he points. This doesn't seem to have been thought through and seems like a desperate attempt to grab headlines. I don't understand where this is coming from, I don't understand how they got to this point, but it seems a bit chaotic again.. » It is far from being done.

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