Rotation policy with three Munster locations selected for WRC bid

Motorsport Ireland President Aiden Harper made the announcement. Picture: Michael Chester. 

A rotation policy is to be implemented after all three Munster locations vieing to host a possible round of the World Rally Championship were nominated as hosts. Motorsport Ireland are bidding to bring the World Rally Championship back to Ireland for what’s suggested is a minimum of three years beginning in 2025.

The three venues are Tralee MTU, Limerick Racecourse and Waterford Quays.

The decision ensures that political representation and support will be threefold and possibly the trump card in Motorsport Ireland’s bid in securing the necessary funding.

Confirming the decision, Motor Sport Ireland president Aiden Harper said: “In Kerry, Limerick and the South East, we have a trio of world class venues that will be ideal hubs for the event. This announcement is obviously predicated on securing government funding and this is a process that is underway at present.” 

Harper added: “I have seen at first hand the want and determination to work together collaboratively to achieve an end goal. What I and the rest of the selection committee have witnessed last week has been truly amazing. To say that we were blown away would be an understatement.

“All proposals and presentations were exceptional, each location had some unique aspects, they were all different in their approach and we believe that most WRC events around the world would be delighted with any of them as a service park. 

"No one particular location came out head and shoulders above the other two. Each location has so much to give and showcased the country in a slightly different way but each area of Ireland is spectacular in its own right, offering challenging stages, beautiful television backdrops, all of which were taken into consideration.” 

In choosing the venue, the selection committee were forced to take a different approach as they admitted to having exhausted all the different ways they could come up with a winner and a single location. The final decision was taken in consultation with the WRC Promoter.

Harper concluded, “With such a strong rally heritage throughout Ireland and having experienced such an overwhelming display of a can do attitude from everyone involved in the three locations, it would be wrong to limit the spectacle to one location. So, we propose all three locations and move from one to another, year after year. Once we have the funding secure we will meet with all three groups to see if each have a preferred year and failing that we will operate a lottery system.” 

A comment from the WRC Promoter added: “Ireland is an incredible country and since the last running of Rally Ireland in 2009, the world teams have been wanting to return. We look forward to continue working with Motorsport Ireland and the FIA to work through the necessary steps to secure a calendar slot for Ireland’s bid.”