80,000 expected to watch Rally Ireland

Around 80,000 spectators are expected to line the roads in counties Sligo, Leitrim and Fermanagh to watch Rally Ireland today.

The race is a cross-border initiative by Failte Ireland and the Northern Ireland Events Company to host a round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) annually from 2007.

Should the WRC bid be successful, the race would be the single largest annual sporting event on the island, attracting 200,000 spectators and more than 770 million TV viewers, organisers said.

This weekend’s event, Rally Ireland 2005, will be broadcast in 61 countries.

Belgian driver Freddy Loix, who took to the stages in his Suzuki Ignis Super 1600, said the mixed surface rally was a great challenge for any driver.

“Here in Ireland, when you add in the beautiful scenery and the great interest people have in the sport, I think it makes a perfect venue for WRC,” he said.

The bid, which has received widespread political support, was launched in July by Sports Minister John O’Donoghue.

Mr O’Donoghue said: “Ireland has a long history of rallying and now has the highest number of rally competitors per capita in the world.

“Ireland would therefore be the ideal location for the WRC – with a professional event team, a low cost and accessible location, visually attractive countryside and the historical and current popularity of the sport in Ireland.

“We are very confient of Ireland’s professional and infrastructural capacity to secure a round of the WRC on an annual basis from 2007.”

This weekend at the service park at Enniskillen Airport there will be a family carnival, as well as the opportunity to view the crews working on their vehicles.