07/07/2006
A place for Rally Ireland in World Rally Championship next year could be worth over £31 million to Fermanagh and its neighbouring counties.
Yesterday the FIA, the international governing body of motorsport, confirmed the world rally calendar, and the event based in Enniskillen and Sligo has a slot near the end. It will pair with Rally GB and take place on November 16-18 (Rally GB will be on November 30-December 2).
The news from Paris is reward for several years of hard work by the organising team, and will raise the profile of the country among the growing rally audience across the globe.
The World Rally Championship (WRC) has an annual viewership of more than 800 million in almost 200 countries.
Research commissioned by Rally Ireland in 2006 found that the WRC could be worth more than £31.6 million a year, generated from spending by spectators, plus the value of international media coverage of the event.
It is sponsored by Fáilte Ireland and the Northern Ireland Events Company, and has received considerable political support on both sides of the border.
Secretary of State Peter Hain said: “As a motorsport fan, I’m delighted. I’ve seen at close hand the impact Rally Ireland has made, I’m excited by what hosting a WRC round will be able to contribute to the economy and the development of social cohesion.”