Circuit of Ireland back in the big time
The announcement, made yesterday, follows weeks of speculation that the circuit was hotly tipped to join the series after Rally Scotland ran into difficulties.
In 2009, Belfast’s, Bobby Willis took over as event director, with the principal ambition of restoring the rally to its halcyon days as the top attraction of Irish motorsport. He was in jubilant form at the announcement.
“We’ve done it. When we took over the running of the rally, we stated that we wanted to reawaken the sleeping giant that is the Circuit of Ireland and today’s announcement is the realisation of that vision.
“Be under no illusions, this country can look forward to hosting a truly world class sporting event in 2012, a rally that will captivate the fans and the general public alike as we bring the rally to the people.”
Along with the Circuit, the IRC will also have new rounds in Bulgaria, Romania and San Marino while the classics like Rallye Sanremo and Tour de Corse remain. The IRC is broadcast across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas by Eurosport and last year boasted a global viewing audience of 79 million. The Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally will be the only IRC round in Ireland and Britain and is the third round on what is the traditional circuit slot at Easter (April 6/7.)
The IRC, won by Dungannon’s Kris Meeke and his Killarney co-driver, Paul Nagle in 2009, is the third most popular motorsport series after Formula 1 and the World Rally Championship.
Meeke said: “Hosting such a high profile event here is unbelievable and is fantastic news for rally fans in Ireland.
“My congratulations to Bobby Willis and the Circuit of Ireland team, who will deliver a sporting event that will showcase my home country on a global scale. As anyone that watched the series over recent years on Eurosport will testify, it’s highly competitive and makes compulsive viewing. I’m certain the IRC champion, Norway’s Andreas Mikkelsen and all the competitors and teams will receive a warm welcome here next Easter.”
Although Willis, understandably, was not willing to confirm the rally base, the speculation is that Belfast, which hosts major tourism events around the anniversary of the Titanic launch, is certain set to play a part in the event.
In 2010, the Circuit of Ireland Rally started in Dundalk and last year, Armagh was the host city while a “Super Special” stage in the centre of Lisburn attracted in excess of 15,000 spectators.
Exact details of the event will be announced in the coming weeks. Willis promised another super special stage in a new host city (expected to be Belfast) that is sure to showcase the skills of IRC and Circuit of Ireland competitors. The IRC begins with the gravel-based Sata Rallye Acores in February and conclude with the mixed-surface Cyprus Rally in early November.
The full 2012 Intercontinental Rally Challenge calendar is as follows: Round 1 (23-25 February): Sata Rallye Acores; Round 2 (15-17 March): Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Ingles; Round 3 (6-7 April): Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally; Round 4 (11-12 May): Tour de Corse; Round 5 (2-3 June): Canon Mecsek Rallye, Hungary; Round 6 (21-23 June) GEKO Ypres Rally, Belgium; Round 7 (6-7 July): Rally San Marino; Round 8 (20-22 July): Sibiu Rally Romania; Round 9 (31 August-2 September): Barum Czech Rally Zlin; Round 10 (15-16 September): Prime Yalta Rally, Ukraine; Round 11 (29-30 September): Rally Sliven, Bulgaria; Round 12 (12-13 October): Rallye Sanremo, Italy; Round 13 (2-3 November): Cyprus Rally.
How the World Rally Car and Modified contingent of the Irish Tarmac series will fit in with the event has yet to be revealed; most likely, they will run in a separate event at the back of the IRC crews.
Donegal’s Donagh Kelly (Mitsubishi) is the top seed for Sunday’s Glenties Rally in Donegal. Declan Boyle, Brian Brogan, Camillus Bradley and John O’Donnell, all in Ford Escorts and Declan Gallagher (Toyota Starlet) provide principal opposition. The Irish Tarmac Championship awards presentation takes place in the Silver Springs Moran Hotel, Cork tomorrow night.
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