Rally Ireland return looking brighter

Rally Ireland’s return to the WRC calendar is beginning to gather pace after a good outcome from a meeting between Irish Senator Mark MacSharry and FIA Vice-President Mohammed ben Sulayem.

Senator MacSharry, whose constituency is Sligo North Leitrim, where Rally Ireland was based, is also gunning for the FIA General Assembly and Prize Giving to be held in the North West of Ireland in 2013.

"As a prelude to the WRC's return I intend to illicit support to mount a bid for Sligo to host the World Motor Sport Council meeting in 2011 and the prestigious FIA General Assembly and prize giving in 2013,"

Rally Ireland has proved a successful venture in the past. It was ranked second best event in the 2007 WRC Season after the infamous Rally Finland, and it also was the most watched event in the WRC. Some of the WRC’s top drivers described the rally as technical but enjoyable.

"With Sligo as its lead, Ireland proved to the world that it can successfully bid for, win and host global events such as the WRC. In 2007, in particular, we displayed our capability to not just compete, but beat the best the rest could offer with the Irish round of the WRC ranking second in the championship and first in terms of television viewers worldwide.

Senator MacSharry also pointed out that it had a massive following, which could prove an advantage in the current economic climate in Ireland.

"Some 800 million people viewed aspects of Rally Ireland that year between live and delayed coverage. Such exposure, together with direct revenue and tourism generation, is too big to ignore - especially in these recessionary times."

Senator MacSharry was a key part of the original bid for the event to be run and based in the North West.

Mr. ben Sulayem was supportive of the event, citing the record of the previous two runnings of the rally and Ireland’s history of rallying as good points for the WRC to be staged in Ireland.

"Senator MacSharry's support for motorsport is most welcome and his enthusiasm and determination for Ireland's hosting of FIA events is encouraging.

"Given Ireland's long association with motorsport, its track record on Rally Ireland, together with the work and commitment of Motorsport Ireland and Senator MacSharry, clearly I would be supportive of any Irish Initiative to host the WRC or other FIA events."

Senator MacSharry announced that he would soon be contacting the stakeholders in Rally Ireland, which are Motorsport Ireland, Tourism Ireland and Failte Ireland. He also said that he would be in contact with the Minister for Sport and the Secretary-General of the Department of Sport regarding the sending of a formal request to North One Sport, the Promoters of the WRC.