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Top motorsport event the Circuit of Ireland is back significantly enhanced for 2014 with the announcement today that the iconic rally is one of 12 set to feature in next year’s revamped FIA European Rally Championship calendar.

Scheduled to take place during its traditional Easter Week-end slot on 18-19 April, the Circuit of Ireland Rally is being billed as one of the 2014 Championship’s ‘flagship events’. Subject to final approval by the FIA, motorsport’s world governing body, it makes its return to the ERC roster after a lengthy absence.

The Circuit of Ireland will be the only UK and Ireland based round in the Championship. Route details will be outlined early next year but it’s anticipated that the action packed two-day rally will include some of Northern Ireland’s top tourism landmarks in counties Down and Antrim as well as locations in Belfast.

Broadcast by Eurosport, the 2014 Circuit of Ireland Rally is expected to attract in excess of 10 million viewers globally as well as thousands of spectators and team officials who will accompany the international competitors.

Circuit of Ireland event director Bobby Willis said he was thrilled that the locally organised rally will be back in business and at the premium end of the international rally arena for 2014:

“The management team as well as our 700 plus volunteers are extremely proud and excited to be part of a new look ERC programme. The world’s second oldest rally the Circuit of Ireland Rally has always attracted high profile competitors and our inclusion in the 2014 ERC programme will help draw some of the best in the sport to Northern Ireland.

Alongside other home grown sporting events, as well as the Giro d’Italia, the Circuit of Ireland is set to be an important economic driver for Northern Ireland in 2014. Indeed, it’s estimated that the event will generate well over £1m for the local economy as well as attracting many first time visitors to the region.”

Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster said: “It is a wonderful coup for the ‘Circuit of Ireland 2014’ to be selected as a leg of the 2014 European Rally Championship.

“There is huge interest in this new series and the event will help raise the profile of Northern Ireland to TV audiences across Europe. Tourism Ireland will also be pulling out all the stops to capitalise on the opportunities that the rally will create.

“Through a well established working relationship with Eurosport, Tourism Ireland has ensured several stages of the event can be seen across Europe by Eurosport’s 125 million subscribers. As well as being able to watch high profile drivers battling it out, viewers will see the spectacular landscapes and beautiful scenery that Northern Ireland has to offer.”

As an integral part of the European Rally Championship the 2014 Circuit of Ireland expects to sign up a who’s who of international drivers and co-drivers. Top competitors being linked to ERC campaigns include Bryan Bouffier from France, Sepp Wiegand from Germany, Andreas Aigner from Austria as well as Waterford driver Craig Breen and Robert Barrable from Swords. Local drivers also likely to participate include Fermanagh based Alastair Fisher and former British Junior Rally Champion Marty McCormack from Draperstown.

Ireland’s Paul Nagle has taken over the role of co-driver to Volkswagen works driver Andreas Mikkelsen (N) at the Rally Australia.

Nagle is standing in for Mikko Markkula (FIN), who is currently recovering from two injured vertebrae. The Norwegian/Finnish duo had to withdraw from last week’s Rally Germany at the last minute, as Markkula’s injury was too severe to allow him to start at Volkswagen’s home event. In order to give Markkula sufficient time to recover fully, Nagle has agreed to take the Finn’s place in the passenger seat of the number 9 Polo R WRC.

Nagle is no unknown quantity for Mikkelsen. The pair have known each other since they went head to head at the Rally Ireland in 2007. Back then, Nagle was co-driver to Britain’s Kris Meeke, with whom he won the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) in 2009. Coincidentally, Markkula won the co-driver competition in the IRC the following year, while Mikkelsen claimed back-to-back victories in the IRC Drivers’ Championship in 2011 and 2012.

“We are pleased to have found such a competent replacement so soon after Mikko’s withdrawal,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “Paul has a wealth of rallying experience and, with his professional approach, will definitely meet our expectations. We wish Mikko a speedy recovery. He can now take his time and concentrate fully on ensuring he gets back to full fitness. As soon as he has recovered from his injury, he will take his place next to Andreas again.”

“It is obviously a great shame that Mikko will also be missing for the Rally Australia. However, the good news is that we have found a good replacement,” added Mikkelsen. “For me, it was important to find a co-driver, with whom I can communicate in English in the cockpit. Mikko and I changed the style of our pace notes ahead of this season, and both switched from our native language to English. It is an advantage for me not to have to change language again.”

The Rally Australia (12-15 September) is the tenth round of the 2013 FIA World Rally Championship. After five wins from nine rallies, Volkswagen works driver Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Julien Ingrassia (both F) lead the Drivers’ Championship, with team-mates Jari-Matti Latvala/Miikka Anttila (FIN/FIN) in third place. Volkswagen also leads the Manufacturers’ Championship.

The Carryduff Forklift MSA Northern Ireland Stage Rally Championship bursts back into action this week when the Todds Leap Ulster Rally gets underway on Friday.

The Championship tussle resumes on the closed roads in Fermanagh and Tyrone with the two-day event also hosting rounds of the premier British and Irish Tarmac series.

There are a number of different categories to this year’s Ulster event to cater for each series but most of the Carryduff Forklift N.I. crews are entered within the Ulster National Rally.

Many crews leave the start ramp early on Friday afternoon but National Rally competitors will not start until 7.15pm on Friday evening.

Derek McGarrity is the current series leader and having scored maximum points on all four rounds to date, he is head and shoulders above his rivals in championship terms.

However, the Glengormley man has not entered the National Rally, instead opting to pursue one of the separate Ulster categories. As a result, he will not be eligible to score points, providing an opportunity for his rivals to play catch-up.

Derek McGeehan currently lies second in the Carryduff Forklift N.I. series standings, 14 points adrift of McGarrity. A victory in Ulster would really bolster his championship campaign, placing him within two points of his rival.

But that will be easier said than done. He finished third to Frank Kelly and Camillus Bradley at last year’s Ulster National Rally, and both crews will be vying for the top spot once again.

In fact, it is Kelly who tops the Ulster National entry list in his potent ‘Baby Blue’ Mark 2 Escort. Navigated by Russell Harold, he won last year’s event by just six seconds. Having added another trophy to his cabinet just last weekend when he claimed 2WD victory at an Irish forestry event, Kelly’s confidence will be high.

Camillus Bradley and Crawford Henderson were their closest pursuers last year and with number two on their Escort’s doors for this weekend’s event, they have Kelly firmly in their sights.

Paddy McVeigh and Stephen O’Hanlon are seeded at number three in their Impreza WRC, just ahead of the MINI WRC belonging to Derek McGeehan. The N.I. Championship regulars will not have to worry too much about fifth seed Fergus O’Meara, as he is not registered to score points, so next on the list is James Laverty and Francis Regan with their Group N Impreza.

Keith White and Damien McCabe will be among the crowd favourites with their beautiful Mark 1 Escort. They provide the meat in a Subaru sandwich with Trevor Ferguson and David McElroy starting the event at number eight in their Impreza.

Other Championship regulars include David Armstrong, Emma McKinstry, Kieron Graffin, Jonny Leonard and Fintan McGrady.

Based at Enniskillen’s Belmore Court & Motel, the two-day event starts on Friday (23 August) and continues through to Saturday afternoon. Event programmes, which contain full entry lists, stage maps and other useful spectator information, can be purchased online or in selected shops. More details can be found online at www.nirally.com.

This weekend’s Orchard Motorsport Lurgan Park Rally has a stunning entry, with 10 World Rally Cars heading an invited list of 50 crews. Topping that list is 11 times winner Kenny McKinstry in his Subaru WRC, with 5 times Tarmac Champion Eugene Donnelly at 2, current Tarmac Championship leader Garry Jennings at 3 also in a Subaru, and former multiple Tarmac Champion Derek McGarrity, at 4…

1 Kenny McKinstry Claire Gamble Subaru Impreza
2 Eugene Donnelly Adrian Frazer Subaru Impreza WRC S14
3 Garry Jennings Michael Moran Subaru Impreza WRC S12
4 Derek McGarrity TBA Ford Focus WRC
5 Derek McGeehan Lawrie Smyth Mini Countryman WRC
6 Alan Carmichael Michael Dunlop Mini Countryman WRC
7 Stuart Biggerstaff Anthony Nestor MG Metro 6R4
8 James Gillen TBA Subaru Impreza WRC S9
9 Denis Biggerstaff Damien McCann Subaru Impreza WRC S9
10 Ray Brammer Gary McElhinney Subaru Impreza WRC S8
11 Emma McKinstry Kenny Hull Subaru Impreza WRC
12 Kevin Kelleher Paddy Robinson Subaru Impreza WRC S9
14 Jonny Leonard Geraldine Leonard Mitsubishi EVO
15 Andrew Mullen Elaine Doherty Mitsubishi EVO 9
16 Mark Massey Damian McDermott Mitsubishi EVO 9
17 Pat   O’Connell Mark   Wiley Mitsubishi   EVO 9
18 Marc Johnston Richard Bell Mitsubishi EVO 9
19 Keith White David Lyness Ford Escort Mk I
20 Rodney White TBA Talbot Sunbeam
21 Joe McGonigle Ciaran Geaney Renault Clio R3 Maxi
22 Trevor Wilson Sarah Faloon Ford Escort Mk I
23 Cal McCarthy Eamonn Dullea Honda Civic R3
24 Darren McKelvey Elaine Maguire Mitsubishi EVO 8.5
26 John Devlin Gavin Devlin Talbot Sunbeam
27 Raymond Johnston Jody McManus Ford Escort RS1800
28 David Greer Brian Crawford Opel Ascona 400
29 Ian Millar Stephen Anderson Ford Escort RS1800
30 Mark McDonald Robin Pitts Ford Escort G3
31 Simon Gordon Billy Regan Vauxhall Astra
32 Andrew McCormick Chris McSherry Vauxhall Chevette
33 Gary Owens Denver Rafferty Ford Escort RS1800
34 Stephen Mawhinney Jonny Magee Talbot Sunbeam Lotus
35 Mervyn Hill Mark Quinn Talbot Sunbeam Lotus
36 Raymond Nelson Chris Nelson Ford Escort Mk I RS2000
37 Alan Smyth Peter Thompson Citroen C2 R2
38 Alan Cassells Gary Dean Peugeot 106 S16
39 Sean Agnew Peter Deery Citroen C2 R2
40 Trevyn   Spiers Gary   Toner Peugeot   106 GTI
41 Martin Teggart Arnold Lutton Ford Escort Mk II
42 Frank Kelly Peter Dunlop Ford Escort Mk II RS
43 Wesley Patterson Russell Harrold Ford Escort Mk II RS
44 Mervyn Wedlock Damien McCabe Ford Escort Mk II
45 Jim McKenna Thomas Treanor Ford Escort Mk II
46 Alastair Cochrane Ryan Loughran Ford Escort Mk II
47 John Waring Lorraine Reynolds Ford Escort Mk II
48 Fintan McGrady Mark Hanna Ford Escort Mk II
49 James Kennedy Rebecca Kennedy Ford Escort Mk II
50 Drew Stewart Ronnie Gilchrist Ford Escort Mk II
51 Hugh Murdoch Ewan Murdoch Ford Escort Mk II
52 Tom Morris Colin Harkness Ford Escort Mk II
53 Bob Adamson Ben Teggart Ford Escort RS1800