Fresh from a successful first running of Rally Ireland at World Rally Championship level, event organisers have reacted with delight to the news that event will kick off the 2009 schedule.
Under the new format for the WRC calendar, which will see events rotated from year-to-year, Ireland will not feature in 2008 but has then been chosen to start the 2009 season and fill the slot normally taken by the world famous Monte Carlo rally.
"We are honoured that Ireland has been awarded the most prestigious position of opening the 2009 WRC series,” Rally Ireland founders Sean O'Connor and Ronan Morgan said. “This is a direct result of the hard work by the thousands of volunteers who worked on our event, our fantastic fans and the outstanding levels of political support we have received since we started the project.
“The residents of each stage must also be commended for their co-operation and support in making Rally Ireland the huge success it was."
The 2007 event was won by
Sebastien Loeb, with the retirement of main rival Marcus Gronholm proving to be key to the Frenchman going on to secure a fourth straight WRC title.
