The island nation aims to join the WRC as early as next season, with plans to sign a three-year agreement, contingent on securing the necessary funding.
In January, the Motorsport Ireland announced its intention to host the WRC event over three years in three different locations. According to the plans, Waterford, Kerry, and Limerick would host the WRC round on a rotating basis.
“It’s a concept we’re not normally in favour of because these events are quite complicated, so to move from one region to the other year after year is an additional complexity. We’re being convinced that we think this is the way to go,” Simon Larkin, WRC Promoter’s event director, told Motorsport.com.
“The fact that this one country has three amazingly prepared, ready, resourced and experienced regions to run a WRC event is a compliment to rallying in Ireland and it makes it more exciting for us.”
Once again, the issue boils down to funding. The Irish government is being asked for a €15 million support package to bring the WRC back to the country for the first time since 2009.
“We met with the three regions and we evaluated all of the opportunities and we hope to make a quick decision on what order the three events would run. And that will then be notified to them it hasn’t yet,” Larkin said.
“It’s a decision that ourselves and that board want to make clearly, strategically and reasonably transparently. That will happen soon and now this is all subject to government funding.”
The Motorsport Ireland expects the government’s decision on the WRC next month.
“Everything has gone through all the due diligence and so forth from the Ministry of Sport and the other relevant ministries within the government. Now it’s essentially up to the cabinet (Taoiseach) and that is a process that is now ongoing, and we hope during March to have an announcement or not. We’re positive the right political moves have been made, but until it’s done it’s not done,” Larkin concludes.
In addition to Ireland, Saudi Arabia and Paraguay are also contenders for the 2025 season calendar. In recent weeks, there have also been reports on the Scottish and Canary Islands WRC bids.
Also read: Canary Islands on the verge of hosting a WRC event?
Also read: Bring out the bagpipes and kilts! A stunning surprise in the WRC calendar?
Also read: Saudi Arabian oil money coming to the WRC next season – ”We are very confident”
Also read: World Rally Championship to introduce new event next year
