Motor sport: In its first year of hosting a stage at the World Rally Championships (WRC), Rally Ireland was today voted the second best stage of the 16-round 2007 championship.
"This is a massive endorsement of Rally Ireland and a huge boost for the organising team who worked so hard to put on a world class event," said Eddie Jordan, chairman of Rally Ireland while recognising Finland as the overall winners.
"It is very encouraging given that this was our first event compared to the Finns who have been running their event for almost sixty years."
The FIA, the Paris-based world governing body of the sport, was responsible for the scoring system which accounted for key areas such technical areas, media and safety considerations. But Jordan was left in no doubt the key to Rally Ireland's success was the volunteers.
"We had three thousand motor sport volunteers working on this
event and they are the real heroes of this great result," added the
former Formula One team boss.
Rally Ireland was a cross-border initiative covering
350kilometres primarily in the North-West. The race started from
Belfast with a Super Special Stage in the grounds of Stormont
before the 20 special stages cut across counties Cavan, Donegal,
Fermanagh, Leitrim, Roscommon, Sligo and Tyrone.
Studies suggest the Failte Ireland and Sport NI supported event was worth in the region of €48million to the local economy. The success of last year's event means Rally Ireland will host the opening round of the WRC Series in January 2009.