18 November 2007: Italians Simone Campedelli and Danilo Fappani in their Mitsubishi Evo 9 take part in the third leg of Rally Ireland 2007 in Sligo, Ireland.Getty Images
Motorsport Ireland has selected venues in County Kerry, County Limerick and the South East region as part of its bid to bring the FIA World Rally Championship to Ireland between 2025 and 2027.
Ireland previously hosted rounds of the World Rally Championship in 2007 and 2009 and is currently seeking to qualify for the next three years’ calendar.
Motorsport Ireland has been working on the bid since August 2023, assessing proposals from all 32 of Ireland’s member clubs.
Due to the strength of the venues submitted, Motorsport Ireland has decided to recommend three separate venues for bid, rotating the venue each year that Ireland aims to participate in the World Rally Championship.
Motorsport Ireland chairman Aiden Harper said the venues in Kerry, Limerick and the South East region were “world class” and would be the “ideal home base” for the event.
“It was an honor for me and the selection committee to see the work of clubs and volunteers from three regions who are putting together such a strong bid to host WRC Rally Ireland in 2025 and beyond,” said Harper. said.
Mr Harper pointed out that the bid was contingent on securing government funding, adding that Motorsport Ireland would need to invest €15 million in the bid.
But he said a successful bid would bring in up to €300 million in revenue over three years, in addition to delivering significant benefits to the regional economies of Kerry, Limerick and the south-east.
WRC Promoter GmbH said: “Ireland is a great country and the World Team has been keen to return since the last Rally Ireland in 2009.
“We look forward to continuing to work with Motorsport Ireland and the FIA to take the necessary steps to secure Ireland’s bid calendar spot.”
The FIA World Rally Championship is the highest level of competition in the motorsport field of rallying, and is the second most watched motorsport event in the world after Formula 1.
The 2022 championship attracted 841 million television viewers worldwide, and the championship’s social media accounts boasted a combined following of nearly 7 million followers.
Motorsport Ireland expects 200,000 spectators to attend when the championship returns to Ireland in 2025.