Rally de Portugal dropped from 2027 World Rally Championship calendar

Calendar exclusion and sudden cancellation

The Automóvel Club de Portugal notified local government authorities on 29 September 2026 that the Rally de Portugal will not feature on the World Rally Championship calendar for 2027. Representatives from the national motoring body travelled directly to the city of Viseu to deliver the announcement in person, making the local council the first public entity officially informed of the withdrawal. Organizers explained during the meeting that the competition's championship slot will move to a different region of the world for the 2027 season. Following the meeting, the organizing club issued a formal statement explaining that the decision followed unforeseen calendar adjustments.

“A last-minute change forces a hiatus in the presence of one of the world championship's most emblematic rallies, admitting a return in 2028.”

Impact on northern and central municipalities

The unexpected removal of the event caused widespread disappointment and indignation among civic leaders and business owners across northern and central Portugal. Municipalities directly affected by the calendar exclusion include Viseu, Arganil, and Fafe, all of which regularly host critical stages of the competition. Local officials and regional business figures emphasized that the annual rally draws thousands of spectators into local territories, generating substantial business volume for hotels, restaurants, retail shops, and temporary service workers. Viseu Mayor João Azevedo addressed reporters to describe the broad territorial fallout of the exclusion.

“It is an enormous loss not only for Viseu, but for the country, for the North region, and for the Centre region.”

Preparation efforts and local resources

Viseu had been preparing its administrative and urban apparatus since February 2026, when the municipality first announced that it would serve as the primary logistical base and host a designated classification stage. Preparation for the 2027 event required months of technical coordination between municipal teams, public safety authorities, and professional delegates from the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile. Local authorities also coordinated closely with regional promotion agency Turismo do Centro de Portugal and concluded formal agreements with the Automóvel Club de Portugal. The Viseu Municipal Council passed official municipal deliberations to accommodate the required logistics. Azevedo clarified that while municipal workers dedicated extensive hours of planning to the event, the local government made no direct monetary investments prior to the cancellation.

Absence of alternative international competitions

Addressing speculation about whether the competition could proceed independently of the international governing body, Azevedo ruled out hosting an unsanctioned edition of the event in 2027. The mayor stated that while smaller regional rallies and the Azores-based Rally of Europe remain on the domestic calendar, the authentic Rally de Portugal will not take place in any format next year. Consequently, the top drivers and factory teams of the World Rally Championship will skip mainland Portugal entirely in 2027. Azevedo issued a public challenge calling on national authorities to react decisively to the loss of the fixture. He added that if organizers successfully reintegrate the event into the World Rally Championship calendar in 2028, Viseu remains fully committed to serving as the operational headquarters.