IRC: 2008 calendar revealed.

The 2008 Intercontinental Rally Challenge will be run over ten events on three continents, raised by one over the series' inaugural campaign, according to the calendar issued overnight.

The championship will start, as it did in 2007, with the Safari Rally in March and end with the China Rally in November, with the ten events split between six on asphalt and four on gravel. The newcomers to the series next year will be the Rally Portugal and the Principe de Asturias Rally in Spain, with Turkey dropping off the schedule to make way.

"We've been delighted with the growth of the IRC in its first season, and now we have a very solid foundation upon which to build in 2008," Jacques Behar, president of series promoter Eurosport Events, commented, "We have carefully chosen the events on next year's calendar to provide the perfect combination of surfaces, weather conditions, cultures, and marketing opportunities. We feel very confident of taking another step forwards next year, thanks to the valued ongoing support of our drivers, teams, manufacturers and partners."

A total of six registered manufacturers is expected to increase for next year, with new prizes rewarding two-wheel drive competitors poised to increase interest in the series. Further details of the incentives will be released soon, but the 2008 IRC has already confirmed that it will benefit from an enhanced television package from Eurosport, with up to eight hours of coverage from every event.

The provisional 2008 schedule is as follows:

March 21-23 Safari Rally*
May 9-10 Rally Portugal*
June 27-28 Ypres Westhoek Rally
July 11-12 Rally Russia*
August 1-2 Rally Vinho di Madeira
August 22-23 Barum Rally Zlin
September 12-13 Principe de Asturias Rally
September 25 -27 Rally Sanremo
October 24-25 Rally du Valais
November 7-9 Rally China*

* denotes gravel-based round; all others asphalt