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Kurt Busch backs WRC return to USA after first taste at Rally Finland

The NASCAR champion’s first taste of WRC convinced him that the series deserves a rally in the USA 

Kurt Busch WRC Finland

Kurt Busch seen during the World Rally Championship Finland in Jyvasküla, Finland on 31,July, 2025

Photo by: Red Bull Content Pool

NASCAR champion and Daytona 500 winner Kurt Busch believes the World Rally Championship has the potential to crack America after receiving a taste of the series at Rally Finland. 

The 2004 NASCAR Cup champion and 2017 Daytona 500 winner made the trip to Finland to experience the WRC for the first time. The 46-year-old has been a long-time admirer of rallying and in 2014 competed in the Monza Rally Show, driving an M-Sport-built Ford Fiesta RS WRC. 

Busch, who is set to be inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame next year, received a taste of the WRC first hand on Thursday, when he joined Rally Estonia winner Oliver Solberg for a ride in the Swedish driver’s Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 car in shakedown. 

“For me,  it took me back to when I ran the Monza Rally Show 10 years ago. To experience it [the WRC] first class with Oliver Solberg on an actual WRC rally,” said Busch.  

“The car is like a ballet and what Oliver is doing with the car is what is the most difficult part for me to digest. I feel the car going sideways and I’m fine, but the jumps, the twists and the turns - the car is so nimble. Our NASCAR cars are so heavy and are buried into the track, but these rally cars are floating on top of the track. 

“Launching an all-wheel drive car and heading into some of the corners and switchbacks, it was like Oliver was a step ahead of where my body was digesting that corner to be. When you respect someone like that there is no fear whatsoever. 

“For sure, our NASCAR discipline is very different. It is a lot about tyre management and getting the grip level on the asphalt. This is all-wheel drive, lightweight, and go as fast as you can go while the tree branches are hitting the windshield. It is a whole different discipline, but it is fun to see it at the top level.” 

Busch’s visit ironically arrived on the day the WRC announced its 2026 calendar, which confirmed that plans to bring the championship to the USA were postponed for at least another year. The FIA, however, remains confident that its aim to take the WRC to North America for the first time since 1988 will come to fruition in 2027.  

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When asked about the appeal of WRC to a US audience, Busch was confident an event on home soil could prove popular and raise the profile of the discipline. 

“It would be fantastic [to have the WRC in the USA]. I think the newness of what NASCAR did with the Chicago street race and Formula 1 what they have done with Las Vegas and Miami is a hybrid street race, it brings it to city centres that wouldn’t normally be accustomed to it. Can rally do that? Absolutely, but you have to have the outlying areas for the stages to happen.  

“I think anything new right now is an adventure and when you have the proper support behind it from the series and the manufacturers that are involved [it can work] if you are quite close to big town like that [Chattanooga], that is when you have the other nightlife and the ability for people to park and to get to where they need to go.” 

WRC Finland Photos - Shakedown & Day 1

Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Atmosphere

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Atmosphere

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Hankook tyres

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Team

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

All WRC drivers

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally Team, Kalle Rovanperä, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally Team

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Joshua McErlean, Eoin Treacy, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1, Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1, Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Elfyn Evans, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Sébastien Ogier, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Takamoto Katsuta, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Elfyn Evans, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Sébastien Ogier, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Sami Pajari, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Kalle Rovanperä, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Ott Tänak, Hyundai World Rally Team

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Sébastien Ogier, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Ott Tänak, Hyundai World Rally Team, Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally Team, Adrien Fourmaux, Hyundai World Rally Team

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, Takamoto Katsuta

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Safety road action presentation

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Grégoire Munster, Louis Louka, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Martins Sesks, Renars Francis, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Joshua McErlean, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team, Grégoire Munster, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team with Corey Funk

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Rich Millener, Team principal M-Sport Ford Rally with Richard Hammondare

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Kurt Busch, Oliver Solberg, Printsport Toyota GR Yaris Rally

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally Team with Corey Funk

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Joshua McErlean, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team with Richard Hammondare

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Kurt Busch, Petter Solberg

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Oliver Solberg, Elliott Edmondson, Printsport Toyota GR Yaris Rally

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Joshua McErlean, Eoin Treacy, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Jari-Matti Latvala, Janni Hussi, JML-WRT OY Toyota GR Yaris Rally

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Sami Pajari, Marko Salminen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Martins Sesks, Renars Francis, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Sami Pajari, Marko Salminen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Takamoto Katsuta, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Sébastien Ogier, Vincent Landais, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Joshua McErlean, Eoin Treacy, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Romet Jürgenson, Siim Oja, FFIA Rally Star Ford Fiesta Mk II Rally2

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Grégoire Munster, Louis Louka, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Ford Puma Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Ott Tänak, Martin Järveoja, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Thierry Neuville, Hyundai World Rally Team

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Martins Sesks, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Jari-Matti Latvala, Janni Hussi, JML-WRT OY Toyota GR Yaris Rally

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Elfyn Evans, Scott Martin, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Kalle Rovanperä, Jonne Halttunen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Adrien Fourmaux, Alexandre Coria, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Sami Pajari, Marko Salminen, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Takamoto Katsuta, Aaron Johnston, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

Thierry Neuville, Martijn Wydaeghe, Hyundai World Rally Team Hyundai i20 N Rally1

Rally Finland - Shakedown & Day 1, in photos

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