The Scotland Rally will present an exciting challenge for the teams of the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2027, featuring fast and technical stages. This was stated by Elfyn Evans, one of the prominent WRC drivers, who recently participated in the Grampian Forest Rally, a test event that has served as preparation for the upcoming Scottish rally.
The event took place near Aberdeen and served to evaluate the roads that could be included in the 2027 rally, which will return to the WRC calendar after a seven-year hiatus. Evans, who drove the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 as a zero car, highlighted the characteristics of the stages: «The stages are nice. They are fast, perhaps even a bit too fast in some sections.»
The rally inspection included a team from the FIA made up of several delegates who oversaw the infrastructure and proposed stages to ensure they meet WRC standards. Evans mentioned that, although the conditions were different from those that could be encountered during the official rally, the experience has been useful for preparation. «We got an idea of what to expect and were able to assess tire wear,» he said.
The rally was won by Jon Armstrong, a Rally1 debutant from the M-Sport-Ford team, who achieved his first victory in a gravel rally, beating Romet Jurgenson by 9.3 seconds. Armstrong was excited about the victory and emphasized the importance of this event in securing a place for next year.
The FIA delegates were positive about the presented stages as well as about the P&J Live conference center, which will serve as a service park during the rally. «The variety of stages is beneficial,» noted Nicolas Klinger, FIA safety delegate.
The WRC calendar for 2027 is still expected to be announced, with the Scotland Rally scheduled for the fall, likely in October. Expectations are high, and both drivers and fans are excited about this new edition of the Scottish rally.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
