OPINION: Should Rali Ceredigion Join the Irish Tarmac Championship?

OPINION: Should Rali Ceredigion Join the Irish Tarmac Championship?

The double-header action at Rali Ceredigion proved one thing above all else: the Welsh tarmac stages offer world-class sport. Watching Irish crews go head-to-head with British and European Championship regulars raises an obvious question for the Irish Tarmac Rally Championship (ITRC).

Should Rali Ceredigion be included as a full points-scoring round of the ITRC?

We think so.

Adding the Aberystwyth-based event would instantly inject fresh excitement into the championship. It gives Ireland’s top crews a direct platform to measure their pace against the best in Europe and the British Rally Championship (BRC) on identical territory.

Logistically, the trip makes complete sense. From Dublin, the ferry to Holyhead takes just three and a half hours, followed by a straightforward two hour drive down through North Wales to the Aberystwyth service park.

Taking the concept further, aligning Rali Ceredigion alongside an Ulster Rally return to the BRC would create a true dual-nation championship.

A cross-channel  arrangement would drive significant rally traffic back and forth across the Irish Sea, boosting entry lists on both sides.

Crucially, this idea is not without precedent. From the 1980s through to the early 2000s, the Isle of Man’s Manx International Rally operated as a dual-scoring round for both the ITRC and the BRC and traditionally running in an early September slot.

The main hurdle is protecting domestic fixtures, particularly the Cork 20. Any expansion across the water must complement the Irish calendar rather than threaten the survival of Ireland’s oldest rally.

If the calendar logistics can safeguard local events, bringing Rali Ceredigion into the ITRC fold is an opportunity too good to ignore.

What are your thoughts? Should the Tarmac Championship cross the water?

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