Motorsport's World Rally Championships race will pass through south Tipperary

Caption for picture above: Members of the South East Region Group, politicial and business representatives outside the Tower Hotel in Waterford on January 5 before making a presentation to Motorsport Ireland and World Rally Championship organisers as part of their bid to bring the championship to this region.

The World Rally Championship race will speed through south Tipperary’s roads watched by thousands of spectators during one of the three years the prestigious motorsport race is staged in Ireland between 2025 and 2027.

The race is expected to bring a significant economic boost to the county in terms of tourists visiting to view the spectacle, which is watched on television by 841 million people worldwide.

The South East is one of three regions in Ireland that has successfully secured the right to host the championships and Tipperary will be one of the counties on the route that will extend from county Wicklow to east Cork.

Waterford will be the location for the championship’s base that will include a 10,000 square metre service park, rally headquarters and international media centre.

Carrick-on-Suir and Tipperary Town Motor Clubs are among nine South East region motor clubs that were involved in submitting the bid to host the championship that takes place in August/early September each year.

Kerry and Limerick are the two other Irish locations that will host World Rally Championship one year each.

The year each region will host the championship hasn’t yet been finalised.

The South East Region Group of motor clubs that put in the bid to secure the hosting of the World Rally Championships, estimates the event will be worth €100m to the South East when it’s hosted in this region.

Graham Scallan, Chairman of the South East Region Group (SERG), thanked the panel of Motorsport Ireland and Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) delegates for selecting the South East region to host the prestigious World Rally Championship.

“We are thrilled and honoured to bring a round of the world rally to the South East.

“There’s been a huge collaborative effort and commitment by all involved in our bid committee that attributed to getting this for the South East of Ireland.

“The event will be worth €100m to the South East and promises to be the largest sporting event to be held on the island of Ireland.

“There is a want and a will to execute this event and showcase Ireland on a global stage,” he added.

James Coleman, Chairman of the 160-member Carrick-on-Suir Motor Club, said securing the hosting of the World Rally Championships was a huge deal for Ireland and the South East region.

He agreed with Mr Scallan that this will probably be the biggest ever international sporting event to be staged in Ireland.

He is hopeful that the South East will host the championship in 2025.

“We would have liked to have the race for the three years but one year is better than none and we are delighted to be involved in hosting it.”

“He hopes that a successful hosting of the rally in the South East and other Irish regions will lead to it coming back to Ireland for many years after 2027.

Caption for photo below: James Coleman, Chairman of Carrick-on-Suir Motor Club and Vice Chairman of the South East Region Group of motor clubs, Minister of State and Waterford TD Mary Butler and Aiden Harper, President of Motorsport Ireland at the Tower Hotel in Waterford on January 5 when the South East Region Group made a presentation to Motorsport Ireland and World Rally Championship organisers as part of their bid to bring the championship to this region.