Circuit of Ireland Rally

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The Circuit of Ireland International Rally is an annual automobile rally, which was first held in 1931. The most recent event was held in 2008.

The Circuit, as it is colloquially known, is organised by the Ulster Automobile Club and is traditionally held over the Easter holiday weekend. It starts and finishes in Northern Ireland, although the lengthy route of the event has typically included large segments in the Republic of Ireland as well. Most of the event's special stages are laid out on paved public roads that are closed to other traffic.

The rally originated in 1931 as the Ulster Motor Rally. It was run from multiple starting points, in a manner similar to the Monte Carlo Rally. After several years in this format, it transitioned into a 1089-mile circuit, essentially following the Irish coastline and starting and finishing in Bangor, County Down. The Circuit was suspended during World War II (1939-1945), and again in 1948 due to fuel shortages. Further cancellations occurred in 1955, 1972, and 2001.

The 2007 Circuit of Ireland was cancelled as a result of continuing disputes between the organisers, the event operating company, and the sponsors. It was replaced by a series of smaller Easter holiday events arranged by the Ulster Automobile Club. These included the Easter International Rally, which was run over 12 special stages in Londonderry, Tyrone, and Donegal.

The Circuit restarted again on the Easter weekend (March 21-23) in 2008. Twenty-eight teams competed on twenty special stages, with fourteen teams finishing[1].

A new event, Rally Ireland, has received substantial backing by government and commercial entities on both sides of the Irish border.