[REVISION HISTORY]

Rome hosting 2027 World Rally Championship stage

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-12 08:22 UTC → 2026-10-13 07:11 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The World Rally Championship (WRC) promoter has announced that Rome will host the Italian stage of the championship starting in 2027. This decision moves the event from Sardinia, ending a twenty-year period where Sardinia served as the primary host for the WRC in Italy. The 2027 event is scheduled for July 8 to July 11 and is expected to feature a symbolic start at the Colosseum. Routes may extend through the Lazio region, including the provinces of Rieti and Frosinone. Local officials, including Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri and Lazio Region President Francesco Rocca, supported the project. Elena Palazzo, the Lazio Regional Councilor, noted the move is a result of collaboration between the Lazio Region, ACI, and organizer Max Rendina, aiming to showcase the territory’s beauty on a global stage. The relocation has triggered a an escalating political dispute in Sardinia. Regional Councilor Valdo Di Nolfo has intensified his criticism, labeling those involved as ‘traitors’ of Sardinia and characterizing the move as a ‘theft’ from local businesses and workers. Di Nolfo specifically targeted Salvatore Deidda, President of the Chamber's Transport Commission, ~~criticized regional leadership for~~ accusing him of failing to defend the event's presence in Alghero, suggesting institutions were aware of the potential transfer as early as 2025. Conversely, regional councillor Valdo Di Nolfo accused political opponents of being “traitors” to the island, characterizing the move as a “theft” from Sardinian businesses Alghero and ~~workers. Di Nolfo~~ Olbia. He also cited changes to ACI governance via a December 2024 decree as a contributing ~~factor~~ factor. In response, representatives from the Fratelli d’Italia party have defended the regional majority. They accused Di Nolfo of being a ‘sleeping spectator’ who failed to take proactive measures to protect the rally during previous months. The dispute underscores a significant political rift regarding the loss of a major sporting, economic, and touristic asset for the ~~rally.~~ island.

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