The UK received’t maintain a spherical of the World Rally Championship this season resulting from uncertainty over public funding. The Ypres Rally Belgium will as an alternative be added to the calendar for the primary time.
Rally GB organisers had been in search of authorities assist to safe the occasion’s future, and had been contemplating a transfer to Northern Eire. Occasion bosses have been in talks with authorities and tourism bosses within the area, however have been unable to agree a deal resulting from uncertainty created by the Covid-19 pandemic.
WRC bosses have described Rally Northern Eire as having been “deferred” for a yr with Jona Siebel, the pinnacle of the championship’s industrial rights holder WRC Promoter, hopeful of together with it on the 2022 schedule.
“It’s unhappy the WRC is not going to get pleasure from the great thing about Northern Eire this yr, however the pandemic continues to affect the worldwide financial system,” mentioned Siebel. ”Our enthusiasm for a WRC spherical there stays robust and we stay up for persevering with our discussions for 2022.”
Rally Northern Eire promoter Bobby Willis mentioned: “Tourism Northern Eire recognises that internet hosting Rally Northern Eire in 2021 represented a optimistic alternative to profile the area globally, and would serve to have fun Northern Eire’s motorsport heritage.
“Nevertheless, it feels Covid-19 may diminish the substantial financial advantages WRC traditionally bestows upon its host areas, and subsequently funding wouldn’t symbolize greatest worth for public cash at the moment.
“We should settle for the scenario for 2021 and deal with our discussions to discover the avenues for 2022.”
Rally GB has been a mainstay of the WRC calendar for the reason that championship’s first season in 1973 with the exceptions of 1996, when it solely counted for the WRC’s two-litre class, and final yr, when it was cancelled resulting from Covid-19.
The occasion historically moved across the nation, with quite a lot of cities and cities serving as host venues, earlier than switching to Cardiff in 2000 with backing from the Welsh authorities. That led to a title sponsorship settlement, and Wales Rally GB has been primarily based within the principality since then.
If Rally Northern Eire does safe a spot on the calendar for 2022 it might mark the WRC’s return to that area for the primary time for the reason that cross-border Rally Eire occasion that was assist in 2007 and 2009.
Ypres lastly secures calendar spot
Ypres Rally Belgium has been a mainstay of the European Rally Championship, and was set to be a late addition to final yr’s massively modified WRC calendar earlier than it was cancelled resulting from rising Covid-19 charges.
The occasion, which first ran in 1965, would be the thirty fifth totally different occasion the WRC has visited, and can be a part of Croatia as a brand-new occasion on the 2021 schedule.
The three-day occasion will happen in August, and might be held on closed roads surrounding Ypres.
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