Save World Rally Championship Round

Irelands largest sporting event at risk

Posted: February 24, 2009 2:04 PM

Senator  Marc   MacSharry  has  warned  that the decision by the Federation International  Automobile ( FIA ) in Paris today (February 18th) is to hold a  review  of  existing  arrangements  with a view to moving to a permanent fourteen  round  series  presents a serious threat to the Irish round which has  been  held  first in 2007 and again earlier this year. Up to this year the  WRC  has  been  operating on a one year on one year off basis among 24 events.

"While  a  move  to  permanent events has not yet been determined or the 14 locations  named  it  is  clear  that  Ireland  is  at risk and I am urging Motorsport  Ireland  the Irish arm of the FIA to use all their influence to consolidate  Irelands  position  in  this prestigious series" explained the Sligo based Senator who has backed the project since its inception in 2004.

MacSharry  stressed that the North – South event, Irelands largest sporting event with 250,000 spectators and a TV audience in 180 countries was one of the  best organised in the World Series. He stressed that while no data was available  yet  for  the  2009  event  in its 2007 debut, Rally Ireland was ranked  second best in the world in terms of organisation and number one in terms of TV.

"This  is a very valuable event to Ireland, almost € 50 million in economic terms and therefore all interested parties must lobby hard to retain it for Ireland"  he added. "I intend to fully support motorsport Ireland and other interested groups in this campaign".

Ireland  was  again  scheduled  to  host a WRC round in 2011 as part of the annual  rotation  of the series. However the FIA plan to bring in the fixed fourteen  round series from 2010. It is understood this potentially follows the  failure of Russia and Indonesia to come up to the standards needed and so leaves two vacant places.

"We  are  more  than  capable  of  hosting  the  best  event  in  the world championship on an annual basis'' concluded MacSharry.