The Australian Rally Championship (ARC) has released its provisional 2027 calendar, with all six events from the current season set to return. However, half of the rounds have been moved to different dates as organisers aim to create a broader mix of conditions across the campaign.
Rally Queensland will once again open the season, following its successful debut in that role in 2026. The Gympie-based event is scheduled for April 9-11. The championship will then head west for the Forest Rally in Nannup from May 21-23. The long-running Western Australian event will host the national championship for the 41st time and retain its traditional May position.
The first major change comes at round three, with Rally Tasmania moving forward from August to July 2-4. Gippsland Rally will follow from August 13-15, returning to the winter slot it had traditionally occupied since becoming a national ARC round in 2022. Its 2026 edition was shifted to November to serve as the season finale.
The Adelaide Hills Rally will remain the penultimate round next year, running around Mount Barker from October 15-17. Narooma Forest Rally will then close the championship from November 19-21, giving the New South Wales event its first opportunity to host the ARC finale.
ARC director Adrian Coppin said releasing the provisional schedule early would give competitors and stakeholders more time to prepare for next season. "We are pleased to be able to get the ARC calendar out there into the public this early on – giving our teams, drivers and stakeholders sufficient time to prepare their plans for 2027," Coppin said.
The decision to move Tasmania into July and return Gippsland to August also raises the prospect of markedly different winter conditions compared with this year. Coppin said the championship had enjoyed favourable weather throughout 2026, but admitted the colder scheduling could add another element next season. "We have been blessed with good weather at every round in 2026 and I am sure competing in both Victoria and Tasmania during winter will be exciting on a number of fronts – including the possibility of rallying on snow which is always a hit with our fans," he added.
The 2027 calendar remains provisional, with final formats and scheduling details to be confirmed in the coming months. "All in all, we are excited to have next year’s calendar out there and look forward to finalising it in the coming months once our dates are confirmed not to conflict with anything," Coppin said.
Two rounds remain in the 2026 championship, with the Adelaide Hills Rally set for October 2-4 before Gippsland closes the season from November 20-22. Lewis Bates heads into the final two events with a 12-point lead.
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