Isle of Man International Rally - CANCELLED

Rally Isle of Man cancelled

Posted: September 22, 2011 2:02 PM

It is with great disappointment that the Board of Directors of Rally Isle of Man today announces the cancellation of the 2011 event which was due to run on 27–29th October.

The rally, which is the Island’s only event that is a round of an international motorsport championship, has suffered a series of major blows that have led to the decision.

The organisers, Rally Isle of Man Limited, had moved to a mid-autumn date this year as part of the requirements of the Isle of Man Government, which has historically been the primary event backer. The dates were the only ones agreeable to all the key stakeholders in the event, allowing it any chance to run at all. In moving, the rally was to have been a double-header finale to the UK’s major title chases, the Dulux Trade British Rally Championship, Dunlop/Wonago MSA British Historic Rally Championship and the BRC Challenge.

The Board’s worst fears arising from the change came to fruition last month when it was announced that the event would not be a round of the main British Championship or the BRC Challenge next year. 2012’s event would have marked the 40th anniversary for the event as part of the UK’s premier championship.

Organisers have sadly received a further body blow this week, with British Historic Championship officials advising that the event will not feature on their 2012 calendar either. This is the best supported of the major series in terms of competitor numbers and has contributed 40 or more entries each year over the last decade.

Both sets of series promoters cite the change of dates as a key reason for the decision, allied to the high cost of travel for competitors to the Island. Both also travel to the Ulster Rally in mid-August as a qualifying round, and will do so again next year, and state that the cost comparison offers little incentive to come to the Isle of Man.

The move to October also means the event loses any direct ferry link with Ireland to coincide with the rally. Three of the top four starters in last year’s International event, winner Keith Cronin, Alastair Fisher and Jonathan Greer, came from the Emerald isle. Similarly, the winner of the Historic Rally, Ryan Barrett, travelled from Omagh to tackle the Manx roads, which are considered amongst the biggest challenge in the sport.

In addition the fastcraft sailings to Liverpool have also ended for the season by the scheduled dates, adding to transport difficulties and costs for crews, teams, officials and spectators alike.

Organisers have also run into a further difficulty in recent days over the route, with last minute objections throwing into doubt their ability to run the flagship Castletown spectator stages, which traditionally form the main attraction of the opening evening of the rally, and have been part of the event for 25 years.

Brian Walton, Chairman of the organising committee of the rally, confirmed the course of action.
“It is a desperately disappointing decision that we have had to take, and certainly not one that we make without earnest consideration. Having looked at all the issues and available options we feel however that we have made the right move for our event. We have been placed in a difficult position, mainly by circumstances and decisions over which we had little control.”

“We have established a reputation down the years for running a world class event, a true test of man and machine on some of the best rally roads anywhere. We do not want to run an event unless it can be to the highest standards, and would reflect well on the Isle of Man. We regret any inconvenience caused to those who had made plans to attend the rally, and thank all those who have supported us to this stage.”

Clerk of the Course, David Gawne MBE, spoke of the feelings of the key staff of the event.
“Having been involved for over 35 years this is one of the saddest days in my association with the rally. The whole organising team feels very flat right now. Rally Isle of Man is run almost entirely by volunteers who work tirelessly year round to stage an international motorsport event, renowned throughout the rallying world, whilst also maintaining their own day jobs. I pay tribute to everyone who works so hard on the event, and who have taken it through many of the planning stages so far this year. I’d also like to pay tribute to the people of the Isle of Man for their support and tolerance over the past 48 years.”

Fellow Board member Les Postlethwaite, a former Clerk of the Course, echoes those sentiments.
“We have many hundreds of loyal personnel from both on and off-island who we consider to be part of the team, which is known as one of the most experienced and able there is. The vast majority of them have Rally Isle of Man as an annual fixture in their calendar. We thank you for your support and hope you understand the reasons behind this decision.”

Attention now turns to the future, as Brian Walton says.
“We had already announced that we would review the date of next year’s event. Without the Championships coming for their annual visit we must now look at the best direction as we seek to provide a sustainable future for Rally Isle of Man.”

“The British Championship organisers have committed to holding open a summer place in their 2013 calendar, and we will now seek to work with all our partners, to see if that is an achievable objective. The Department has already pledged to take part in those discussions and we hope that we can find a way forward in the best interests of the Island and the event.”

Regulations/Entry Form

Posted: September 6, 2011 4:25 PM

Available at:

• Rally Isle of Man (International)

Manx Telecom becomes title sponsor of 2011 Rally Isle of Man

Posted: August 17, 2011 8:31 PM

David Smith, director of Marketing, Manx Telecom with David Gawne MBE, Rally Isle of Man Clerk of the Course.

Manx Telecom has reached an agreement with the Rally Isle of Man organisers to become the headline sponsor of the 2011 event. The event will now be known as the Manx Telecom Rally Isle of Man.

The rally moves to October for the first time this year (27th-29th), and forms a spectacular finale to both of the UK’s major rally series, the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship, and the Dunlop/Wanago MSA British Historic Rally Championship, as well as the BRC Challenge. Teams will battle for two sets of points on the islands famous roads, making the ‘double header’ round pivotal in deciding the championship outcomes.

As well as the title sponsorship, Manx Telecom will also receive a range of other sponsorship benefits including programme advertising, website presence, branding in the road book, race regulations and door plate numbers as well as trackside banners, stage flags, and branding in the winners enclosure and winners ramp. The company will also assist the organisation with equipment, infrastructure and expertise and will provide an i-phone to the winner of the ‘Spirit of the Rally’ award.

Welcoming the agreement, Manx Telecom’s David Smith, Director of Marketing says,
“We’re delighted to develop our sponsorship portfolio by adding the islands leading four-wheeled motorsport event. We are looking forward to working with the Rally Isle of Man team on an event with such a rich history and high profile, creating increased exposure for us both.”

Brian Walton, Chairman of the organising committee of the rally, is thrilled with the partnership.
“This is a huge boost for the event, and we thank Manx Telecom for the commitment they’ve made. It’s great to get one of the islands biggest brands on board, and we warmly welcome them as a key partner of Rally Isle of Man. In the current economic environment it is tough for all event promoters, and we look forward to a relationship that is mutually rewarding.”

Rally Isle of Man gears up for move to autumn

Posted: July 15, 2011 1:46 PM

Preparations for Rally Isle of Man, one of the most important events on the British isles rallying calendar, are stepping up as it prepares to assume its new slot in October as a title decider.

Normally, the event would all but be upon us, as it has run in either July or August for more than a decade.

However, organisers confirmed late last year that that they intend to re-create it as a highlight of autumn, set to run from 27-29th October 2011. It will be the 48th edition.

The move will regain the events’ former position as the final and deciding round of both of the UK’s leading championships, the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship and the Dunlop/Wonago.com MSA British Historic Rally Championship, as well as the BRC Challenge.

The Rally Guide is due to be published in the next few weeks, and entries will open shortly afterwards with the publication of event regulations.

With other key announcements also set to be made, the anticipation of the event is set to grow throughout the build-up to what will also be the Silver Jubilee Isle of Man Historic Rally, the event that kick-started historic rallying in the British Isles.

‘We know there are many people asking when the event is on, many who expect it to be in the next few weeks’, says Les Postlethwaite, the Rally Director. ‘Our message to all our supporters, old and new, is to gear up for October, and we hope you’ll all be a part of a new chapter for Rally Isle of Man!’

Rally Isle of Man first ran as the Manx Trophy Rally in 1963 and has been held during July since 2003. It was most recently the British Rally Championship final round in 2000, when it was held at the beginning of September.

In 2010 competitors from Australia, Belgium, Finland, Holland, Iceland and Luxembourg tackled the event, in addition to all the home nations. The rally was won by the reigning British Champion, Cork’s Keith Cronin and co-driver Barry McNulty.

TWO TREMENDOUS ISLAND ASPHALT RALLYING EXPERIENCES JOIN FORCES

Posted: May 8, 2011 11:03 AM

The Barbados Historic Rally Carnival has teamed up with the Isle of Man Historic Rally to offer winners free entries including travel expenses.

Competitors in the Isle of Man Historic Rally, run this year between the 27th and 29th October, will have the opportunity to win a rally trip of a lifetime for two weeks under the Caribbean sun at the end of July next year.

A similar deal applies for the winner of this year's Barbados "King of the Carnival" prize, which has been in place since 2002 - if the winners are Europeans, they get to return to the coral island in 2012 for more of the same; if the winners are local competitors, they're off for asphalt adventures this October on the challenging roads of the Isle of Man.

The Isle of Man Historic Rally celebrates its Silver Jubilee 25th anniversary this year and is the finale to this year's Dunlop/Wanago British Historic Rally Championship, one of the best-supported in the world. The Historic Rally runs alongside the Isle of Man International Rally, first held in 1963, and features 150 miles of challenging tarmac special stages.

Alan Teare, the Isle of Man Historic Rally Clerk of Course is delighted with the association.
"It's very much a natural fit for Rally Isle of Man," he says. "As the longest standing historic rally in the British Isles, we are all about promoting a high quality event that offers competitors from around the globe the chance to compete on our fantastic roads. We look forward to welcoming the winners of the Barbados Historic Rally Carnival to our island and are delighted to be able to partner with such a high-profile event. Our climates may differ, but the welcome for visitors will be every bit as warm! The reciprocal prize of an expense-paid trip to the Barbados Historic Rally Carnival will certainly add interest, and maybe pace, to our Historic classes."

Barbados Historic Rally Carnival organiser Greg Cozier also enthuses about the opportunity: "For many years, we've had various prize exchange programmes with events in UK and Ireland; the Rally Carnival is a hugely social event and we promote it mainly through social interaction. To be teamed up with a legendary asphalt event like the Manx Rally is a great opportunity for us as organisers, as well as our local competitors, who have a chance to win the prize to contest one of the best asphalt rallies in the world."

Barbados Historic Rally Carnival - 23-24 Jul 11

Rally Isle of Man set for major re-launch as autumn highlight / Tarmac Championship to enter Discussion regarding 2012

Posted: September 16, 2010 12:28 PM

One of the Isle of Man’s key tourism events is set for a major re-launch in 2011.

Rally Isle of Man organisers have confirmed that they intend to move the event, one of the biggest rallies in the British isles , away from its traditional summer date, and re-create it as an autumn highlight, set to run from 27-29th October 2011. It will be the 48th edition.

The move will regain the events former position as the final and deciding round of both of the UK’s leading championships, the Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship and the Dunlop/Wonago.com MSA British Historic Rally Championship. The decision has also been made after consultation with the Isle of Man Governments’ Department of Economic Development.

Geoff Corkish MHK, Department Member responsible for motorsport, was directly involved in the discussions.

“The Department are our key supporter,” acknowledges Brian Walton, Chairman of Rally Isle of Man. “Ever since we approached them with the idea they have been accommodating, and we thank them for it.”

“The move offers us the chance to attract a whole new audience for the rally as we close in on our Golden Anniversary. The best drivers from the British isles and further afield will face a new challenge on our unique roads, which should offer extra appeal for spectators, media and officials alike.”

British Championship organisers have also warmly welcomed the move and are already looking at making it an even more attractive proposition with double points available.

“I believe this is a positive move by the Rally Isle of Man organisers,” says Mark Taylor, Dulux Trade MSA British Rally Championship Manager. “The competitors and teams should benefit with a reduction in travel and accommodation costs now that the rally is being held outside of the peak holiday season. The event is extremely popular with our competitors, it’s testing and challenging format over two days has led to us making the decision that it will be two separate point scoring rounds in 2011, providing another opportunity for a nail biting and fitting finale to the UK’s premier rally championship.”

Ireland’s equivalent principle series, the Citroen Irish Tarmac Championship, has also welcomed the news and has signalled that they will enter into discussion regarding the event returning to their Championship calendar in 2012.

“We couldn’t do this without the support of a huge number of people”, concludes Walton. ”The response we have received from throughout the sport has been wonderful to hear, and whilst the event is already renowned for its high standards of organisation, we now have the opportunity to revitalise it to still new heights. The organising team will certainly be working hard to ensure that it quickly establishes itself as a ‘not to be missed’ October event!”

Event Website

Posted: September 16, 2010 12:28 PM

• Rally Isle of Man (International)