Rally Ireland WRC return in doubt as Motorsport Ireland pauses bid

Motorsport Ireland has effectively removed itself from contention for a place on next year’s FIA World Rally Championship calendar after opting to pause its Rally Ireland bid.

The decision follows the governing body’s move to commission an independent review of Motorsport Ireland’s operations, governance and long-term strategy. The review is intended to create a more stable foundation for the organisation and help “future-proof the sport”.

In an email circulated to member clubs, Motorsport Ireland said halting major projects during the review would allow key decisions to be taken without external pressure. As a result, hopes of bringing the WRC back to Ireland for the first time in almost 20 years have been shelved, at least in the short term.

The pause also comes after a series of practical and financial challenges slowed progress on the Rally Ireland proposal. In January 2024, president Aiden Harper confirmed discussions were taking place with the WRC Promoter regarding a potential three-year agreement, which included plans to rotate the service park and fan zone between Kerry, Waterford and Limerick.

However, momentum stalled four months later when a key funding deadline set by WRC Promoter and event director Simon Larkin was missed, with the necessary financial backing failing to materialise in time.

Focus subsequently shifted towards a possible return in 2026, but further delays emerged when the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media indicated it would require up to six months to assess the business case before committing government support.

With the strategic review now taking precedence, there are growing concerns that the Rally Ireland bid is falling behind more advanced proposals from rival countries, including the UK, despite public backing from high-profile drivers such as Sébastien Ogier.

Rally Ireland last appeared on the World Rally Championship calendar in 2007 and 2009, with Sébastien Loeb and co-driver Daniel Elena claiming victory on both occasions in a Citroën C4 World Rally Car.

“It has been decided to pause efforts while the strategic review is taking place over the coming months”, a statement said.

“This means there is no possibility of inclusion on the 2027 FIA World Rally Championship calendar, but following the review, an attempt at looking for a date beyond that will be possible”.