Northern Ireland is no longer being considered for the final vacant spot on this year’s World Rally Championship calendar after the sport’s governing body in the UK pulled its support for the idea.
Aaron Burkart scored his debut J-WRC win in his Suzuki Swift S1600 on Rally Ireland last weekend, the opening round in the 2009 Junior World Rally Championship.
SS1 - Glenboy 1 (22.25km): Latvala fastest through SS1 as winter tyre gamble pays off big time in the treacherous conditions; Aava second also on winter tyres; McShea third; Hirvonen fourth; Sordo fifth; Henning Solberg sixth; Loeb seventh said conditions were 'impossible'; Burkart heads t
Petter Solberg has admitted that he has '100 things up in the air' as he desperately chases a drive that will allow him to return to the World Rally Championship in time for his home event next month - but he will only come back, he insists, when all of the circumstances are right.
The organisers of the Rally Ireland published the official entry list for their event this week, the opening round of the 2009 World Rally Championship, which runs from January 29 to February 1. In total 43 crews are due to start with 21 in WRC cars. The full entry list is as follows:
The entry list for the Rally Ireland, the opening round of the 2009 World Rally Championship, has been announced with a total of 43 runners, including 21 WRC specification drivers.
Pirelli will take its snow tyre to the Rally Ireland, the opening round in the 2009 World Rally Championship, it was announced today. The Monte Carlo Snow tyre will be offered to competitors as an option instead of 'normal' tarmac rubber.
Motorsport Ireland, the governing body of motorsport in Ireland, has announced that Keith Cronin has been selected as its candidate for the Pirelli Star Driver scheme, which will give five young rally drivers the opportunity of competing in a series of six WRC events in 2009.
BP Ford team leader Marcus Gronholm has said that while it is going to be tough to take the drivers' championship now, he has by no means given up hope.
Citroen's Sebastien Loeb re-took the advantage in the battle for the 2007 drivers' title this weekend, when he came through to win the inaugural Rally Ireland, the penultimate round in the 2007 FIA World Rally Championship.
BP Ford team leader, Marcus Gronholm has said that while his neck is a bit sore, he is otherwise 'OK' following his big crash this morning on the Rally Ireland.
Following the long-haul trip to Japan at the end of last month, the FIA World Rally Championship now returns to Europe for the Rally Ireland, the penultimate round of the season.