Flat out for 2009

When the idea of Rally Ireland was first thought up, there were many nay-sayers who didn’t think it could be done. They didn’t like the route. They didn’t like the Service Park location. They just didn’t like the idea of it. Full stop.

And yet with the help of people from all corners of the island, and even further afield, Rally Ireland, led by Tom Walsh, Ronan Morgan and Sean O’Connor, was ranked the second best rally in the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2007. Only Rally Finland was better. And they have only been running their event for 60 years.

Rally Ireland’s success did not happen by chance. Everyone knew that if the event was to be retained in the WRC, one of the best shows in the Championship had to be put in place.

And what a show – Rally Ireland was the most watched round of the WRC last year with more than 62.8 million people tuning in to watch. That the rally was held in one of the most picturesque areas of the island (ignoring all the rain!), only added to the TV spectacle.

Starting at the Super Special in Stormont and finishing at Mullaghmore, Sligo provided a backdrop so different to the usual WRC events that it made everyone in the WRC sit up and take stock of what Rally Ireland has brought to the Championship.

And it was for that very reason that Rally Ireland was awarded the honour of kicking off the 2009 Championship replacing Monte-Carlo. They now know that a world-class event can be staged on these shores.

That world-class event is down to the hard work and dedication put into Rally Ireland 2007 by more than 2850 marshals and volunteers who gave up their time to work on the event.

But it’s not just the scale of the numbers of marshals required that is amazing. Rally Ireland 2007 used more than 82 kilometres (yes, kilometres) of rope, 15,000 posts, 3,000 metres of motorway mesh, 2,600 metal barriers (excluding Stormont, Mullaghmore and Service Park) and 1,150 rolls of tape.

Deep breath.

2,000 arrows, 1000 garbage bags, 470, whistles, 300 fire extinguishers, 250 flash lights, 200 portable toilets, 100 bales for chicanes. And all before food or accommodation for the event are even taken into consideration. The sheer scale of the event cannot be underestimated. And it is all being done again for next January.

There is only one aim for Rally Ireland 2009. To be the best rally in the world.

And just as the idea of Rally Ireland was first raised, there will again be nay-sayers dismissing the chances that this objective can be achieved.

Having already proven them wrong once, there is no reason why the organisers will not be able to prove them wrong again next January.