Time for dialogue and change to tidy up crowded rally calendar

There are genuine concerns with the geographical spread of events especially in respect of rallies in the northern half of the country.

Kilavullen's Conor Shanahan (Toyota Starlet) and his Wexford co-driver Andy Hayes won Class 14 in the Assess Ireland Rally of the Lakes last May. Picture: Martin Walsh.

Final rounds of the three major Irish rally championships will conclude the competitive element of Irish championship rallying over the next six weeks. All three, the NAPA Auto Parts Irish Tarmac Rally Championship, the Triton Showers National Rally Championship and the Sligo Pallets Irish Forest Rally Championship have much in common, but championship clashes on the same weekend are placing huge demands on all the various stakeholders. 

Although the restructured Motorsport Ireland calendar, that rotates (eight) national rally rounds and some other rallies on a biennial arrangement, has given some leeway, it has also created issues.