Hankook Becomes Title Sponsor of WRC US Rally
Hankook Tire & Technology will officially host the first U.S. WRC round in 39 years under the Hankook Rally US name.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Motorsports
Hankook Tire & Technology signed a title sponsorship agreement on November 3, 2026, at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, securing naming rights for the WRC US Rally. The event will be officially held as the Hankook Rally US, marking the first WRC round in the United States since the 1988 Olympus Rally in Washington State.
Why it matters
The sponsorship marks Hankook Tire's first title sponsorship of a WRC round and is intended to raise its brand awareness in the North American market. The rally's return to U.S. soil after 39 years gives Tennessee and Kentucky a major international motorsports event.
The U.S. rally is the first WRC round held in the United States in 39 years and the 11th round of the 2027 season. The stub does not disclose financial terms of the title sponsorship agreement.
The players
Hankook Tire & Technology
Hankook Tire & Technology is a South Korean tire manufacturer that has expanded its global motorsports sponsorships.
World Rally Championship (WRC)
The World Rally Championship is the premier international rally racing series, sanctioned by the FIA.
The details
Hankook Tire & Technology signed the agreement with the WRC promoter and the US Rally organizing committee, securing title naming rights. The rally will run on gravel roads across Tennessee and Kentucky, with Knoxville, Tennessee serving as the operational base and the official start ceremony held in Nashville.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: Title sponsorship agreement signed in Las Vegas at the SEMA Show.
August 25-29, 2027: US Rally held on gravel roads in Tennessee and Kentucky.
Season Trajectory
The return of a WRC round to the United States after the 1988 Olympus Rally in Washington State restores American presence on the international rally calendar. The rally is the 11th round of the 2027 WRC season, adding a North American event to the series' schedule.
Fans planning to attend will have a domestic WRC round to follow, with the rally running August 25-29, 2027. The event's Tennessee and Kentucky gravel stages and the Knoxville base give visitors a concrete regional hub for travel planning.
The takeaway
The return of a WRC round to the United States after 39 years is a notable step for American rally racing. Fans in Tennessee and Kentucky can mark August 25-29, 2027 as the dates to watch.
What happens next
The Hankook Rally US is scheduled for August 25-29, 2027, on gravel roads across Tennessee and Kentucky.
Further reading
Explore more Motorsports coverage for context on this rally and the wider racing calendar.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 조선일보.
