Circuit of Ireland set to be rewarded with IRC series status

SPECULATION is rife that next year’s Circuit of Ireland Rally will be included in the global Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) series.

It appears the Circuit is in pole position to replace the Rally of Scotland after the latter, that drew great acclaim just a few weeks ago, has date and funding difficulties for 2012. In the IRC’s provisional calendar for 2012, there are issues with rounds at the beginning of the season, including Scotland and the Arctic Rally.

Aside from funding problems, the change of date, from the end of year to early season, for Rally of Scotland, is not suitable due to the start of the breeding period in the Scottish forests for a protected species of grouse. A number of years ago, organisers of Irish forest rallies had to rearrange their events due to similar circumstances. No official announcement has yet been made by the IRC or the Scottish organisers.