Motorsport Ireland events suspended until June

All events permitted by Motorsport Ireland will be suspended until 1 June 2020 to help curtail the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak. Events affected include May’s Killarney Rally of the Lakes.

A statement released by Motorsport Ireland accepted that the date may be revised as it receives guidance from the government.

“Our thoughts go out to the victims and their families that the virus has affected and to all those club members who for months have been devoting time and energy to the preparation of their 2020 events.  We share their disappointment and wish to express our solidarity and support.”

Several events have already been postponed and the Rally of the Lakes will be the third Irish Tarmac Championship round hit by the virus.

Motorsport Ireland’s announcement also impacts two National Rally Championship events – Carlow Stages Rally and Cavan Stages Rally. Both events were due to take place in May while the championship’s second round, the Circuit of Kerry, has already been postponed.

The National Rally Championship’s summer break means its next planned event after Cavan isn’t until August while the ITRC’s next event after Motorsport Ireland’s suspension period is the Donegal International Rally which is due to run on 19-21 June.

The Irish Forestry Championship’s fourth round, Tipperary Forest Rally, is also affected. That means the only Forest rallies still to run from the championship’s original schedule are the Cork and Bushwhacker events as they are planned to take place in July and September respectively. Next weekend’s Moonraker Forest Rally has been postponed as organisers seek to find an alternative date for the event.

Photo by Rally Through a Lens

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