Circuit of Ireland back in the big time

NEXT year’s Donnelly Group Circuit of Ireland Rally is one of four new rounds in the global Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) series.

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.