Image source, Getty ImagesSebastien Loeb dominated Rally Ireland in 2007 and 2009 – which were both run as cross-border events in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
By Andy GrayBBC Sport NI
The location for a bid to bring the World Rally Championship back to Ireland from 2025 will be announced on Tuesday by Motorsport Ireland.
Three locations – Limerick, Waterford and Tralee, in Kerry – were visited by WRC officials on Thursday and Friday.
The WRC last came to Ireland in 2007 and 2009, with Sebastien Loeb winning both events.
The bid comes after a number of unsuccessful attempts to bring the WRC to Northern Ireland in recent years.
Four previous bids to bring rallying's premier series to Northern Ireland – in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2024 – have failed, largely due to the Covid-19 pandemic and subsequent deadlines for funding with the lack of a devolved government at Stormont.
Simon Larkin, the WRC's event director had told BBC Sport in February that WRC officials were "100% behind" having Rally Northern Ireland on the 2024 calendar.
However, with continued delays surrounding a bid north of the Irish border, attentions have now turned for Rally Ireland to make a return to the calendar on what has been proposed as a three-year agreement, starting in 2025.
The proposed location in Limerick would see the service park, fan zone and facilities, which requires 10,000 sq m of space, held at Limerick Racecourse.
The Institute of Technology Tralee in Kerry and a base in Waterford City are the other two locations bidding to host the WRC.
Aiden Harper, president of Motorsport Ireland, told RTE Sport applications had been made with the Irish government for funding and admitted if that did not come to fruition then the event would not take place.
"Our ask is quite simple. It's a 15m euro investment from the Government for a 300m euro return over three years which is a pretty strong business case," he said., external
"The funding application is making its way through the various levels within Government right now and once we announce where the venue will actually be, that will host the service park, we will be hoping the local politicians, chambers of commerce and various people would assist us in the lobbying when it comes to guarantee the funding.
"But all of this is predicated on getting the Government funding. We're well advanced in our plans when it comes to picking a venue, securing a venue etc, but if the funding does not become available, we won't have a World Rally Championship here in Ireland."
