Rally Italy will be based in Rome from 2027 with Sardinia taking the vacant ERC slot
Photography by Red Bull
Words by Luke Barry
Italy’s round of the World Rally Championship will be based in Rome from 2027, with Sardinia pivoting to the European Rally Championship.
Sardinia has been the Italian world championship round since it took over from Sanremo in 2004, but its future has been under question with the Rally di Roma organizer working on a WRC bid.
When the 2026 WRC calendar was published in late July, Italy’s slot was not attached to a specific event name – just an October 1-4 date.
While it transpires the WRC will continue to visit Sardinia in 2026, it will switch to the mainland from 2027 with Sardinia taking Rome’s place on the ERC schedule until 2030.
Rally di Roma has been an ERC event since 2021
WRC Promoter senior event director, Simon Larkin, said: “We are confident that this agreement represents the best course of action for the future of top-level rallying in Italy The decision to postpone the move until 2027 will give us the necessary time, together with the FIA, to best prepare the event in Rome, ensuring its success from the very first year.
“Our priority is to create a top-level event that can honour the history of rallying in Italy and project it toward an even brighter future.”
FIA road sport director, Emilia Abel, added: “We are pleased to see the long-term future of one of rallying’s most historic and significant events being renewed. Rally Sardinia has been a great challenge for the crews in recent years, and I’m sure next year’s edition will be just as spectacular.
“We look forward to working together with ACI and the WRC Promoter regarding the long-term future of the WRC in Italy, and the necessary preparation that goes into proposing a new event based in Rome.”
Words:Luke Barry
Tags: ERC, Rally di Roma, Rally Sardinia, WRC
Publish Date September 23, 2025 DirtFish 
https://dirtfish-editorial.s3-accelerate.amazonaws.com/2025/09/lfx3PGnf-SI202507050096-780x520.jpg September 23, 2025
Up Next
