News: Rallying
UK-based event is among a host of events pushing to fill the WRC roster 13-round line-up
Hopes of a UK round of the FIAWorld Rally Championship in 2022 are still alive – even though the planned Rally Northern Ireland didn’t make the initial cut for next season.
Last week’s meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council in Monaco approved nine events with four slots up for grabs.
Rally Northern Ireland remains in the mix but is likely to face opposition from seven other candidates as it battles to join the intended 13-round calendar, a one-event increase from 2021.
Bobby Willis, the Rally Northern Ireland director, spoke to Motorsport News following the FIA’s announcement last Thursday. Although he wouldn’t be drawn on the status of Rally Northern Ireland’s funding or how much time is available to finalise a deal with WRC Promoter, he believes that there is still a chance of a UK round of the
WRC next year for the first time since 2019.
“I hope we’re one of the four,” Willis told MN. “I’m pushing like hell and it’s my dream to get a WRC rally in 2022. If doors were closed I wouldn’t be pushing, I wouldn’t be working like hell. I believe there is still an opportunity.”
The Monaco WMSC confirmed the dates of the Monte Carlo Rally (January 20-23) and Rally Sweden (February 24-27) and approved the events in Estonia, Greece, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Portugal and Spain for calendar inclusion. The “remaining four slots will be confirmed later”, according to the governing body.
It’s understood that the Croatia Rally, Rally Finland, Ypres Rally, plus one additional overseas event are among those rivalling Northern Ireland for a calendar spot.
By rubberstamping the dates of the opening two events now, the FIA hopes it will allow the “best possible preparation for the upcoming season”, rather than waiting until the Paris WMSC in October.