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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.

Students at St. Malachy’s High School in Castlewellan, as well as St. Michael’s Primary School in Finnis, near Dromara, received visits from the MSA’s N.I. Go Motorsport Regional Development Officer (RDO) on Wednesday. Despite the heavy rain, students didn’t allow their enthusiasm to be dampened as they discovered  all about the world of motorsport. RDO Jonathan MacDonald delivered a strong safety message and also gave students the opportunity to see his Evo 1 rally car.

Jonathan is travelling across Northern Ireland to deliver Go Motorsport presentations to students. If your school would be interested in receiving a visit (free of charge), Jonathan can be contacted on 07895 007555.

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.

Andreas Mikkelsen and Mikko Markkula (N/FIN) have had to withdraw from the Rally Germany for health reasons.

A diagnosis prior to the start of the Rally Germany revealed that co-driver Mikko Markkula had fractured his seventh vertebra and partially fractured his eighth vertebra, presumably during the Rally Finland three weeks ago.

Based on these findings, Volkswagen Motorsport took the decision to withdraw Mikkelsen/Markkula for health and safety reasons.

Mikko Markkula had complained of back problems during the Rally Finland, but these had eased off after the rally. However, the pain returned during Monday’s “Recce”. The team decided to send Markkula for an MRI scan, which ultimately confirmed that the Finn would have to withdraw for health reasons.

“Safety comes first, particularly when it comes to Mikko Markkula’s health,” said Volkswagen Motorsport Director Jost Capito. “The fractured vertebrae were not easy to diagnose, which is why we took our time to ensure that we made the right decision.”

“It would have been too risky to send Andreas Mikkelsen out with a co-driver, alongside whom he has not driven a single metre prior to the rally and who did not take part in the ‘Recce’. Andreas has changed his style of pace note this season, and Mikko is the only co-driver familiar with them. Unfortunately they must both withdraw from the Rally Germany and are very disappointed. Everyone in the team has their fingers crossed that Mikko will make a speedy recovery.”

Mikko Markkula, Polo R WRC #9
“I suffered severe back pains on the Sunday of the Rally Finland. We assumed it was muscular tension. The pain eased off after the rally, just as the doctors had said it would. However, it has returned over the past few days and I went to see Dr. Johannes Peil on Tuesday evening for a more accurate MRI scan. It was then that we determined I had fractured the two vertebrae. Nobody had considered that possibility, and it was obviously a shock because it meant we would have to withdraw from the rally at the last minute. We are really disappointed. I also feel sorry for the team, for whom we wanted to get a good result at our home rally. I am now hoping to get back to full fitness as soon as possible.”