Stormont launch 2009 placed into uncertainty due to the controversy surrounding the date of appointment for the WRC global promoter

Image: Belfast Telegraph

According to the Belfast Telegraph the World Rally Championship launch scheduled to take place on 24th January 2009 may not take place.

The planned gala event, featuring a Race of Champions style shoot-out around the grounds of the Stormont estate, has been placed in doubt due to a dispute between the FIA and the competing manufacturer teams over the appointment of a WRC global promoter.

A global promoter will not be in place until 2011 and the teams are concerned about who will foot the bill for the Stormont event. The WRC manufacturer teams are yet to confirm if they will take part, putting the launch (which would take place five days before Rally Ireland) into doubt.

The teams are concerned with the length of time it will take to appoint the global promoter and this dispute has now involved the Stormont launch event.

Rally Ireland Event Director John Naylor commented in the Belfast Telegraph:

We have become piggy in the middle of a dispute that is not of our making. Nevertheless we are doing everything in our power to try to help to resolve the situation but without the commitment of the teams to take part in the Stormont launch there is no point in having it.

Initially, when the idea was first floated, we had the enthusiastic backing of the FIA and the teams but the situation has changed in the past few weeks.

We are doing everything we can to make it happen, or to find an alternative plan, because we believe the Stormont setting which was used last year as the opening superspecial stage created an iconic image of Rally Ireland."

Malcolm Wilson explained Ford's position to the Belfast Telegraph:

Our decision has nothing to do with Rally Ireland and we are looking forward to returning to Ireland for the rally in January. But the Stormont launch for the World championship is a separate issue. No one has taken ownership of it and we have not given a commitment to take part.

That might change ..."

The last comment by Malcolm Wilson suggests if the issue regarding the global promoter is resolved in time then the launch event in Belfast might still go ahead.

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