IRC Intercontinental Rally Challenge

15 Oct 2008

Scotland to host final round of 2009 IRC series

At a press conference in the Scottish city of Glasgow yesterday, the First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond (second from left in photo) announced that Scotland will host the final round of the 2009 IRC series, which is promoted by Eurosport Events, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Eurosport Group.

The RAC MSA International Rally of Scotland, an all-gravel rally, will take place from November 19-21 2009, and it will be based in the famous forests of Stirling and Perth & Kinross, to the north and west of Scotland's capital Edinburgh. These roads have a fearsome reputation, having formed a thrilling element of the legendary RAC Rally in the past, and schooled some of the sport’s top stars such as the sadly-missed Colin McRae.

Making the announcement the First Minister of Scotland, the Rt Hon Alex Salmond MSP said: “Scotland’s reputation for leading innovation and setting new standards in the motor sport industry makes it an ideal location for the Intercontinental Rally Challenge final. The event will be made even more special as it will be one of the signature events in our Homecoming programme. For 2009 we are inviting Scotland’s friends and family to return home to celebrate our strengths and culture.

“Today that invitation is being extended to the countless rally fans and enthusiasts around the world. With dramatic landscapes, warm hospitality and fierce competition – I hope that many will answer the Homecoming rally call.”

Also present at the press conference were Simon Crane, the Managing Director of Eurosport UK, Paul Bush, the Chief Operating Officer of Event Scotland, the national events agency and Andrew Coe, the Chief Executive of the event organiser and promoter International Motor Sports. Guests included Robert Reid, the 2001 World Rally Champion co-driver alongside Richard Burns, and Andrew Cowan: a childhood friend of the great Jim Clark who went onto become Team Principal of Mitsubishi Ralliart until his retirement in 2003.

Geraldine Filiol, the Managing Director of Eurosport Events, commented: “We are delighted that Scotland will provide the Intercontinental Rally Challenge with its final round in 2009. Next year the IRC will have an exciting blend of the old and the new. The season is set to start in January with the closed mountain road stages of the world famous Monte Carlo Rally and conclude with its newest event in the forests of Scotland. This is the latest chapter in the continuous development of the series, as we all look forward to the promise of another exciting season in 2009.”