Hankook has secured its first title sponsorship of a World Rally Championship round, with Rally US set to carry the Hankook name in August 2027.
The agreement was announced at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas on 3 November 2026. Officially named Hankook Rally US, the event will bring the FIA World Rally Championship back to the United States for the first time since the Olympus Rally in Washington State in 1988.
WRC returns to American gravel
Scheduled for 25 to 29 August 2027, Hankook Rally US will feature gravel stages across Tennessee and Kentucky as Round 11 of the 2027 WRC calendar.
Knoxville, Tennessee, will serve as rally headquarters, with the ceremonial start taking place in Nashville. The location has a direct connection to Hankook, which has its US headquarters in Nashville and a manufacturing plant in nearby Clarksville.
For New Zealand rally fans, the event adds another gravel rally to follow as the championship returns to American stages after 39 years.
A first for Hankook in the WRC
The agreement gives Hankook naming rights to a WRC round for the first time, extending the brand’s involvement beyond tyre supply.
Hankook branding will feature across rally stages, the WRC Arena, fan zones and podium backdrops. The sponsorship will also support activities with motorsport fans, customers and business partners across North America.
Rob Williams, Senior Vice President of Hankook Tire North America Headquarters, said the partnership would showcase Hankook’s tyre technology and strengthen relationships with customers and partners.
Supporting every WRC class
Hankook has been the exclusive rally tyre supplier for all WRC classes since the 2025 season. The title sponsorship builds on that role, placing the brand at the centre of the championship’s American return.
Beyond the WRC, Hankook supports more than 70 motorsport competitions worldwide through exclusive tyre supply agreements and team sponsorships.
From competition to tyre development
Hankook uses driving data gathered through motorsport to support research and development of high performance tyre technology.
Rally competition provides data from demanding surfaces and changing conditions. Through its WRC involvement, Hankook continues to develop its tyre technology while supporting teams throughout the championship.
Hankook Rally US 2027 will extend that involvement further, combining tyre supply with the brand’s first WRC event title sponsorship.