BACK IT OR LOSE IT: NI MP PAISLEY URGES FANS TO SUPPORT UK WRC BID
Britain’s World Rally Championship round as GB is axed for 2021 as NI talks ramp up
There will be no home world championship rally in 2021 after efforts to switch the UK’s counter from Wales to Northern Ireland failed.
Rally Northern Ireland had been set to take over from Rally GB as the UK round, but the worsening Covid-19 crisis forced Tourism NI to hold back its planned funding for the proposed August event.
However, Rally Northern Ireland is in the frame for a 2022 calendar slot with Ian Paisley MP using an exclusive interview with Motorsport News to urge mass support for the bid, which has the backing of WRC Promoter and the FIA.
Belgium’s Ypres Rally has been called up to take the UK’s place on what is expected to remain a 12-round schedule.
Northern Irish politician Ian Paisley MP is calling on the motorsport community to do all it can to maintain a UK round of the
World Rally Championship.
Speaking to Motorsport News following last Friday’s confirmation that the Ypres Rally in Belgium will replace Rally Northern Ireland on the 2021 calendar, Paisley said a home
WRC event is “absolutely crucial for motorsport development in the UK”.
The Democratic Unionist MP for
North Antrim is one of the main driving forces behind Rally Northern Ireland and has lobbied for support during parliamentary sessions in Westminster.
Although Rally Northern Ireland appeared on the provisional 2021
WRC roster for August 19-22 as
Rally UK, it was subject to the signing of the event promoter agreement.
When it became clear hoped-for funds from Tourism Northern Ireland would not be forthcoming due to the worsening Covid-19 pandemic, time was called on the 2021 event. But Paisley believes it’s an opportunity for future years worth fighting for.
Paisley told MN: “It will attract interest, it will attract visitors and maintaining a UK round is absolutely crucial for the future of motorsport development in the UK.
“And events like this also create enthusiasm amongst young people who end up doing technical exams, getting into the sport, not just as participants but as engineers and as people who can really make a difference to the world. The spin-off is absolutely huge.”
Paisley believes fans can play their part in getting Rally Northern Ireland over the line as a WRC event.
He said: “People need to really get behind it [because] the British Isles really deserves this. We need that belief coming right from the very top of government, right from the very top of all those engaged in putting on motorsport events in the UK. We need to create that bandwagon effect that it has to happen.
“If you get the will you then establish the way and the way is obviously making sure it’s properly resourced. That will be a cocktail of funding from both private and national government as well as the devolved regions pooling up the necessary resources.
“I’m not under any illusions that it won’t be tough,” Paisley continued.
“It is a big ask but any examination of
[the event] is that it’s worth doing because the opportunity for promoting the region, promoting the United Kingdom and the opportunity for presenting one of the finest spectacles in rallying is all there.
But the extra time gives us that space to generate the momentum.”
Paisley praised the Rally Northern Ireland organising team, led by Bobby Willis, for looking at 2022 rather than giving up on their dream.
“We have to keep the faith for the industry, for the fans and the competitors,” said Paisley. “There’s an awful lot of commitment out there and a huge motoring heritage. We want to pull off one of the best WRC Tarmac events that’s possible and I certainly do believe it’s possible.
“The realistic thing, which the organisers have done, is look at the 2022 calendar and say, ‘let’s give ourselves the chance to make sure this thing happens really, really well’and establishes Northern Ireland on the World Rally calendar.”