Ireland Gets A WRC Round!

shhh · 5 Jul 2006, 13:01 (Ref:1648830)

The World Rally Championship (WRC) is coming to Ireland for the first time ever with the announcement today in Paris that Rally Ireland has successfully secured a place in the WRC calendar from the 2007/2008 season.

The first Rally Ireland WRC will take place from November 18th-20th 2007 and is set to become the largest sporting initiative ever undertaken on the island of Ireland.

Full press release here:

http://tentenths.com/forum/showthrea...56#post1648856

**BertMk2** · 5 Jul 2006, 13:02 (Ref:1648834)

Ireland is on the calendar for the 2007-08 WRC!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/moto...ly/5150452.stm

Looks like all the hard work with Rally Ireland has paid off, it should be a fantastic event given the level of support rallying has in Ireland.

Knowlesy · 5 Jul 2006, 13:04 (Ref:1648837)

Absolutely fantastic news!

leonidas · 5 Jul 2006, 13:24 (Ref:1648860)

Well done to the Irish and all who put together the bid.

Maybe England will get a WRC round again one day...

**BertMk2** · 5 Jul 2006, 13:29 (Ref:1648873)

Given the number of WR cars that enter Irish events the entry list should be superb - it's certainly a more appealing prospect than going to watch the half mile of rally Cardiff that you're allowed to see.

EvilPumpkin · 5 Jul 2006, 14:14 (Ref:1648905)

I might even have to change my "no marshalling rallies" rule for this one - although I suspect there is going to be no shortage of volunteers!

duke_toaster · 5 Jul 2006, 15:34 (Ref:1648956)

Quote:

Originally Posted by leonidas

Well done to the Irish and all who put together the bid.

Maybe England will get a WRC round again one day...

Take the Welsh one away, and have it in Cornwall. Now THAT would be amazing

Motormouth · 5 Jul 2006, 15:49 (Ref:1648968)

Fantastic News. It should be backed by Vodaphone or o2, because I've had about 15 texts in the last coupla hours giving me the good news!

***MagnetON*** · 5 Jul 2006, 16:12 (Ref:1648980)

Must... Resist... Bobble Hat Purchase...

The STIG · 5 Jul 2006, 16:22 (Ref:1648987)

This is excellent news! Gives an excellent opportunity to see the worlds best drivers on some of the worlds best rallying roads. Any word on where exactly it's on? Could be an extra round to visit for me!

Quote:

Originally Posted by BertMk2

it's certainly a more appealing prospect than going to watch the half mile of rally Cardiff that you're allowed to see.

Oh dear...

Warning, what follows is a rant and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Ten-Tenths.
(To be honest, it probably doesn't even represent the opinions of the poster when they aren't ranting.)

Some factors to consider

The official title of the rally is Wales Rally GB - Not Rally Cardiff, not the rally of Wales either.
The GB in the title of the "Wales Rally GB" stands for Great Britain - of which Wales is still a part of - unless mad Morgan has got his way...
Whilst the host city is Cardiff, Most of the action happens around Swansea - where the service park is.
There is more than half a mile's worth of spectating available - you have to walk to find most of it though!

I really don't understand why everyone is so negative about WRGB...

We now return you to our normal ramblings.

429CJ · 5 Jul 2006, 17:21 (Ref:1649019)

Ireland is not the only new rally next year, others are Norway, and Portugal also making return. Australia, Cyprys and Turkey are out.

Preliminary calendar for 2007:

19.-21.1. Monte Carlo
9.-11.2. Sweden
16.-18.2. Norway
9.-11.3. Mexico
30.3.-1.4. Portugal
4.-6.5. Argentina
18.-20.5. Italy (Sardinia)
1.-3.6. Greece
3.-5.8. Finland
17.-19.8. Germany
31.8.-2.9. Greece
5.-7.10. France (Corsica)
12.-14.10. Spain (Catalonia)
26.-28.10. Japan
16.-18.11. Ireland
30.11.-2.12. Great Britain (Wales)

BOY BLUNDER · 5 Jul 2006, 18:22 (Ref:1649049)

Ah yea wot fun,UDB,& the BB mite have to
make that a date not to miss to.

davyboy · 5 Jul 2006, 18:39 (Ref:1649058)

Fabulous news. Pity its so late in the year though... would have loved to have seen Loeb, Solberg etc... hammering along those fabulous stages in the middle of summer. Still its brilliant that we've managed to get it though... will be Ireland's biggest sporting event for a very long time [if not ever].

chewy pappas · 5 Jul 2006, 20:07 (Ref:1649111)

Great news indeed.This event is going to answer a question I have wanted to know the answer to for years.(i suspect I know it already) How will the local guys do,some of whom are in what are virtually works cars.with lots of local knowledge.I know some of them will definitely fancy their chances of a good result.Can nesbitt,donnelly,mchale etc get within a sniff of the regular WRC guys?

Mike_Wooshy · 5 Jul 2006, 20:32 (Ref:1649119)

Quote:

Originally Posted by 429CJ

Ireland is not the only new rally next year, others are Norway, and Portugal also making return. Australia, Cyprys and Turkey are out.

Preliminary calendar for 2007:

19.-21.1. Monte Carlo
9.-11.2. Sweden
16.-18.2. Norway
9.-11.3. Mexico
30.3.-1.4. Portugal
4.-6.5. Argentina
18.-20.5. Italy (Sardinia)
1.-3.6. Greece
3.-5.8. Finland
17.-19.8. Germany
31.8.-2.9. Greece
5.-7.10. France (Corsica)
12.-14.10. Spain (Catalonia)
26.-28.10. Japan
16.-18.11. Ireland
30.11.-2.12. Great Britain (Wales)

When did New zeland go ???
OR has this lost a place too ???
Well done to Ireland great news !!!!!!!

Slippy Diff · 5 Jul 2006, 21:10 (Ref:1649141)

No Rally NZ!! Looks like it's turning into the European rally championship. Greece gets two rounds??

**Woolley** · 5 Jul 2006, 23:26 (Ref:1649261)

Looks like a typo. Wasn't 1-3/6 the date scheduled for Hamilton?

Ah, no, August:

19-21 January Rallye Automobile Monte-Carlo
09-11 February Swedish Rally
16-18 February Rally Norway
09-11 March Rally Mexico
30 March-01 April Rally de Portugal
04-06 May Rally Argentina
18-20 May Rally Italia-Sardinia
01-03 June Acropolis Rally of Greece
03-05 August Rally Finland
17-19 August Rallye Deutschland
31 August-02 September Rally New Zealand
05-07 October Rallye de France - Tour de Corse
12-14 October Rallye de España
26-28 October Rally Japan
16-18 November Rally Ireland
30 November-02 December Rally GB

**Peter Mallett** · 6 Jul 2006, 04:41 (Ref:1649352)

Excellent news, well done to all those in Ireland who've worked for this.

Notso Swift · 6 Jul 2006, 06:17 (Ref:1649381)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike_Wooshy

When did New zeland go ???
OR has this lost a place too ???
Well done to Ireland great news !!!!!!!

No New Zealind is in, after all they have the new president of rally commission
http://www.wrc.com/page/News/Breakin...855974,00.htmlSo despite being continually voted as the best rally by the Commission, the teams and the Media, developing the benchmark for a modern WRC event, it looks like Austrailia has been shafted

**BertMk2** · 6 Jul 2006, 08:46 (Ref:1649445)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The STIG

Warning, what follows is a rant and does not necessarily represent the opinions of Ten-Tenths.
(To be honest, it probably doesn't even represent the opinions of the poster when they aren't ranting.)

Some factors to consider

The official title of the rally is Wales Rally GB - Not Rally Cardiff, not the rally of Wales either.
The GB in the title of the "Wales Rally GB" stands for Great Britain - of which Wales is still a part of - unless mad Morgan has got his way...
Whilst the host city is Cardiff, Most of the action happens around Swansea - where the service park is.
There is more than half a mile's worth of spectating available - you have to walk to find most of it though!

I really don't understand why everyone is so negative about WRGB...

We now return you to our normal ramblings.

Sorry STIG!

[Off topic]
Yep, it's Wales Rally GB. But it shouldn't be. It should be Rally GB and use stages in Wales and elsewhere (Kielder for a start

). The spectating on the event just seems to get more and more sanitised every year (just as the events themselves become mere shadows of their pasts).
[/off topic]

Anyway, the calendar is looking good, (good decision to drop Turkey and Cyprus - they offered nothing unique really - they would have been the first ones I'd have chosen to drop).

Roundy Mooney · 6 Jul 2006, 09:01 (Ref:1649454)

Quote:

Originally Posted by davyboy

... will be Ireland's biggest sporting event for a very long time [if not ever].

Little matter of the Ryder cup this year !!!

Even though I won't be watching it apparently 1 billion other people will be.

Should be one of the biggest WRC entries of all time I would imagine was counting up last night and and you could see up to 70 WRC's out on the stages !!!

Will be interesting to see who gets one of deals for this one and what new machinery it will bring into the country.

There is loads of intersting possibilities like, will Genie change from the Corrolla or try and stick it to the worlds best in a 7 year old car. Nesbitt in a works Mitsi ??

Or could see any of these trying to get one of deals

Mc Crea
Meeke
Mc Shea
Galligan
Higgins
Gallagher

Just cant wait

davyboy · 6 Jul 2006, 10:06 (Ref:1649511)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roundy Mooney

Little matter of the Ryder cup this year !!!

Even though I won't be watching it apparently 1 billion other people will be.

Just shows you how far off my radar screen golf is... even though I went to school with Padraig Harrington. You're totally right of course.

I think the locals will do pretty well on this rally, and what's more, it will possibly get them some well deserved international attention.

jase · 6 Jul 2006, 12:46 (Ref:1649615)

Fan-Bloody-Tastic!

Right, will just have to sort travel arangements now. Ireland then Rally South Wales

(sorry kev, couldnt resist) in a 2 week gap.

The STIG · 6 Jul 2006, 12:50 (Ref:1649619)

Quote:

Originally Posted by BertMk2

Sorry STIG!

[Off topic]
Yep, it's Wales Rally GB. But it shouldn't be. It should be Rally GB and use stages in Wales and elsewhere (Kielder for a start

).
[/off topic]

Granted. But as long as the Wales Tourist Board (now part of the Welsh Assembly Goverment [useless]) is sponsoring the event, that's not going to happen...

Quote:

Anyway, the calendar is looking good, (good decision to drop Turkey and Cyprus - they offered nothing unique really - they would have been the first ones I'd have chosen to drop).

Yeah, same here. But what's happened to Austrailia?

oh and Jase... I'll get you later!!

**BertMk2** · 6 Jul 2006, 12:55 (Ref:1649622)

Quote:

Originally Posted by The STIG

Yeah, same here. But what's happened to Austrailia?

I'm fairly sure the calendar as listed can still be added to so Australia may well make it onto the final schedule. At this stage the supporting series haven't been allocated either so there is no indication of which rounds will be supported by the JWRC and which by the PWRC.

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