Portugal will miss the 2027 World Rally Championship, despite having a date set for next year’s event.
WRC calendar shifts remove Portugal from 2027 list
The Vodafone Rally Portugal was slated to run from 13 to 16 May next season, a slot that the Automóvel Club de Portugal (ACP) had secure under a three‑year agreement that extends through 2028.
However, the ACP announced on 29 September that changes made “by the promoter on the last day of preparation for the next season of the World Rally Championship” will exclude the event from the 2027 calendar. The decision was framed as part of a broader effort to diversify the championship’s geographic spread.
Guidelines for 2027 already hint at three new venues – Rome, Scotland and the United States – suggesting the WRC is tightening its rotation of circuits.
Talks underway to return in 2028
The ACP said initial discussions with the WRC promoter are exploring a re‑integration for the 2028 season. The 2025 three‑year pact guarantees the rally’s presence until at least 2028, and the club’s statement that “the first talks have already taken place” indicates that a return will probably be negotiated before the 2028 calendar is released.
Portugal’s long‑standing WRC legacy
Since the first World Rally Championship in 1973, the rally has been one of the founding members of the series, only missing the schedule between 2002 and 2006. With its gravel stages and iconic Algarve landscape, the event has become a staple of the championship’s heritage.
As the WRC finalises its 2027 calendar, the relocation of Portugal’s round stands as a reminder that even legacy events can be reshaped to serve the sport’s evolving global strategy.
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