The World Rally Championship (WRC) organisation is in talks with Aberdeen City Council over bringing a series of major races to the north-east.
The negotiations with Motorsport UK were revealed by council finance convener Alex McLellan.
Local authority chiefs are looking to bring the event’s fast-paced thrills to the north-east for three years, starting in 2026.
It would be the first time that the WRC has came to Scotland since 1992, and Mr McLellan reckons the event could bring more than £80 million to the city.
What is the WRC?
The WRC is the world’s premier international rallying series, with more than 800 million cumulative viewers tuning in last year.
A season typically consists of 13 three-to-four-day rally events driven on surfaces ranging from gravel and tarmac to snow and ice.
The calendar takes in drivers all over the globe; from the likes of Kenya and Chile, to Estonia and Japan.
The WRC has never held a stage in the north-east.
Scotland has a strong rallying pedigree – with one of the all time greats Colin McRae hailing from Lanark.
What will WRC Aberdeen look like?
The north-east has a long history of rally cars flying through the countryside.
The Grampian Forest Rally has run outside of the Granite City since 1989, and WRC bigwigs could look to take inspiration from this in plotting out the stages.
The premier Aberdeenshire event sees drivers take to the forests just outside Stonehaven and Alford.
It’s understood there is the potential for the event to stop off at the P&J Live.
WRC could bring £80 million to Aberdeen
Addressing the chamber, Mr McLellan said: “We have been in discussion with Motorsport UK with the aim to securing a three-year deal for an event based around the city of Aberdeen.”
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He added: “It is our ambition to work with them to see if Aberdeen can host the World Rally Championships which would drive international investment, generate substantial local economic activity, and create jobs…
“This would potentially produce more than £80 million of economic impact across our initial three-year period.”
WRC bosses impressed with city and shire
P&J Live managing director Rob Wicks revealed that the arena will play a major part in the WRC’s maiden appearance in the north-east.
The 15,000 capacity venue will act as the base of operations for the event, with the service park, media centre and race control all on site.
Mr Wicks also hinted that there is scope for a fan zone and “activity in the arena” when the WRC come to town.
The venue boss said: “Scotland has been identified as the preferred destination for the WRC.
“I know that they looked at other parts of the UK, but they really liked what they saw up here.
“It’s incredible that we can be in the mix for this. The city, shire and venue would all win.
“They are the key components for this and have a major role to play.”
But not all councillors are on board with Aberdeen WRC…
Despite the big announcement pledging to bring tens of millions to the city, not every councillor was jumping for joy at the news.
Conservative group leader Richard Brooks slammed the plans, saying they looked “chaotic”.
Mr Brooks said: “It is both remarkable and interesting that whilst the rest of the country are trying to reduce their carbon footprint, the SNP-Lib Dems, from nowhere…want to introduce motocross to the city.
“It doesn’t sound thought through and seems to be a desperate grab for headlines.
“I don’t understand where it came from, I don’t understand how they got to it but it just looks a bit chaotic again.”
The Kincorth, Nigg, and Cove councillor previously put forward his own idea for a city centre event to try and boost local coffers.
Mr Brooks suggested the “Granite City Marathon”, which he said would bring hundreds of people to the city every year.
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