New England Forest Rally Announces “Rally New England” as the 2027 World Rally Championship Round

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Bringing the World’s Best Rally Teams to Errol, New Hampshire

Delivered in partnership with Team O’Neil Rally School; American Motors to supply course-opening cars and key volunteer vehicles; powered by Dunkin’ Donuts

ERROL, N.H. — April 1st, 2026 — The New England Forest Rally (NEFR) today announced that Rally New England will serve as the 2027 World Rally Championship (WRC) round, bringing the world’s best rally drivers, co-drivers, and factory-backed teams to the forests and gravel roads of Northern New Hampshire. Headquartered in Errol, New Hampshire, Rally New England will elevate the region’s long-standing rally tradition onto the sport’s biggest international stage—while preserving the community-first spirit, volunteer backbone, and rugged road character that define rallying in New England.

Rally New England will be delivered in partnership with Team O’Neil Rally School. The event is supported by key brand partners, including American Motors, which will provide all course-opening cars and vehicles for key volunteer roles, and is powered by Dunkin’ Donuts, reinforcing the event’s New England identity and rally-week hospitality.

“Rally has always been a team sport—drivers and co-drivers, organizers and volunteers, towns and land managers,” said Chris Cyr, CEO and Partner of Team O’Neil Rally School. “To bring a WRC round to Errol and to the NEFR community is huge. Our focus is to help deliver Rally New England safely and professionally, and to support the volunteers and officials who make rally possible—because the people behind the scenes are what make an event world-class.”

A New Chapter for New England Rally

For decades, NEFR has represented the best of American stage rally—fast gravel, unpredictable conditions, and a culture where competitors and volunteers share deep respect for the roads and communities that host the event. The announcement of Rally New England as a 2027 WRC round marks a significant leap in global visibility and operational scale. It also signals a commitment to building an event structure capable of supporting the most demanding rally teams in the world while remaining grounded in what makes New England rally special: authenticity, stewardship, and a hard-earned reputation for doing things right.

Rally New England will anchor its operations in Errol, New Hampshire, a community uniquely suited to rally week logistics, outdoor tourism, and the forest-road infrastructure needed for a multi-day stage rally. Errol’s location provides access to a broad network of gravel corridors and rally-proven terrain while offering a practical hub for service operations, volunteer coordination, and spectator management.

What a WRC Round Means for Fans, Competitors, and the Region

A WRC round is more than a weekend race. It is a multi-day rally week with complex logistics, global media attention, and high expectations for consistency and safety. Rally New England will bring:

• Elite international competition, including the world’s top rally teams and drivers
• A major influx of visitors—fans, teams, media, and support staff—into Northern New Hampshire
• A central service park and rally headquarters in the Errol area serving as the operational heart of the event
• Expanded spectator experiences designed for both visibility and safety
• Increased opportunities for volunteer participation, training, and leadership development
• A rally-week atmosphere that celebrates the region’s identity, outdoor culture, and local businesses

For local communities, Rally New England is expected to create meaningful benefits through lodging demand, restaurant traffic, fuel and retail spending, seasonal employment, and long-term tourism awareness. For the rally community, the event represents a rare chance for U.S. fans to experience global rally at full intensity—on familiar terrain, with New England’s signature roads and weather variability adding an additional layer of challenge.

Partnership with Team O’Neil Rally School: Building Readiness and Raising the Standard

Team O’Neil Rally School will serve as a core delivery partner for Rally New England, supporting the event’s operational and people systems. This partnership is designed to strengthen the event in three practical ways:

Volunteer and official development.
Volunteer roles in rally are operational jobs—radio operators, stage marshals, timing crews, safety teams, service-park support, start/finish control, and recovery coordination. Rally New England will expand training pathways, role definitions, and briefing systems so volunteers can step into positions with clarity and confidence. This includes emphasis on communications discipline, safety-first decision-making, and repeatable processes that reduce uncertainty under pressure.

Event operations support and process discipline.
At international scale, small operational errors create big downstream impacts. Rally New England will prioritize standardized procedures, documented checklists, and escalation protocols. The goal is simple: make the event repeatable—year after year—without relying on heroics.

Competitor-facing education and professionalism.
Rally week creates opportunities for education, community engagement, and raising the professionalism of the broader rally ecosystem. Team O’Neil’s experience in coaching, vehicle dynamics, and gravel driving will support rally-week programming that strengthens the community around the event.

American Motors: Course-Opening Cars and Key Volunteer Vehicles

Rally New England will be supported by American Motors, which will provide all course-opening cars and vehicles for key volunteer roles. Course-opening vehicles are essential to rally safety and stage management. These vehicles help confirm stage readiness, validate communications coverage, and ensure that safety systems are functioning as intended before competition runs.

By supplying a dedicated fleet for course opening and volunteer operations, American Motors will strengthen:

• Consistency and reliability in stage-opening procedures
• Mobility for key officials and safety staff
• Operational visibility across stages and service areas
• Response readiness through improved positioning and transport capacity

This fleet support reduces operational risk and gives rally leadership more control over stage activation and readiness checks—areas that become increasingly important as event scale grows.

Powered by Dunkin’ Donuts: Rally Week Energy, Hospitality, and Community Touchpoints

Rally New England is powered by Dunkin’ Donuts, reinforcing the event’s New England roots and supporting rally-week hospitality for fans, volunteers, and staff. Rally requires early mornings, long days, and constant coordination across remote areas. Fueling the people behind the scenes—especially volunteers—directly improves event performance.

Dunkin’s role will support expanded volunteer hospitality, fan-facing touchpoints, and community-friendly rally-week moments designed to welcome visitors while celebrating local pride.

Safety, Spectator Management, and Community Coordination

Rally New England will be planned with a safety-first foundation. With increased visibility comes increased responsibility—particularly around spectator management and town coordination. The event will prioritize:

Clear resident and business communications.
Road closures and access windows will be communicated early and repeated often, with user-friendly maps and timing guidance intended to reduce disruption and increase predictability for those living and operating businesses near the rally route.

Structured spectator guidance.
Spectator safety depends on more than signage—it requires designated areas, arrival-time planning, clear rules, and on-site stewarding that keeps fans in safe zones. Rally New England will publish spectator guidance well ahead of rally week and will reinforce safe viewing culture on the ground.

Partnership with local services.
Coordination with emergency services, local authorities, towing and recovery, and medical partners will be built into planning milestones. Rally New England’s goal is to deliver a world-class event without compromising local safety and everyday mobility.

Stewardship of forest roads and public lands.
New England rally exists because communities and land managers choose to support it. Rally New England will emphasize responsible road use, waste management, restoration planning, and best practices that protect long-term access.

What Happens Next: Key Information to Be Released

Rally New England will release additional information on a rolling basis as planning progresses, including:

• Confirmed rally dates and a rally-week schedule overview
• Service park and HQ details in the Errol area
• Volunteer registration timelines, role pathways, and training opportunities
• Spectator access details, including designated spectator areas, parking, and shuttle plans where applicable
• Community information resources, including closure schedules and resident guidance
• Media credentialing and press operations information

About New England Forest Rally (NEFR)

The New England Forest Rally (NEFR) is one of the United States’ most iconic stage rally events, known for its demanding gravel roads, dedicated volunteer culture, and deep roots in the New England motorsport community. NEFR brings together competitors and fans for a uniquely authentic rally experience built on respect for local communities and the forests that make the event possible. Rally New England, headquartered in Errol, New Hampshire, will carry this legacy onto the World Rally Championship stage in 2027.

About Team O’Neil Rally School

Team O’Neil Rally School is an education-based rally and performance driving center located in Northern New Hampshire. The school delivers hands-on driver training programs in rally driving, performance driving, winter driving, and advanced car control, serving individuals, enthusiasts, and professional clients. As an event partner for Rally New England, Team O’Neil will support volunteer development, operational readiness, and rally-week execution.

About American Motors

American Motors supports automotive performance culture and event delivery through vehicle programs and operational partnerships. For Rally New England, American Motors will provide course-opening cars and vehicles for key volunteer roles, strengthening stage readiness and operational reliability.

About Dunkin’ Donuts

Dunkin’ Donuts is a leading coffee and baked goods brand with deep roots in New England. As a powering partner of Rally New England, Dunkin’ will support rally-week hospitality and community engagement.

April Fools Day!

Media Contact
John Smith
Media Coordinator
Rally New England / New England Forest Rally