Cork ace Keith Cronin is returning to the Irish Rally Championship

CORK driver Keith Cronin is to return to the Irish Rally Championship for the first time since he clinched the series on the 2016 Cork ‘20’ International Rally. 

The Ballylickey ace will campaign a Ford Fiesta Rally2 in next month’s Corrib Oil Galway International Rally, the opening round of the series that concludes with the Cork ‘20’ International Rally next September.

A four-time British Rally champion, Cronin has yet to decide if he is to make another attempt to equal Jimmy McRae’s five BRC victories.

Continuing with plans to expand the family enterprise, Cronin reckons the ITRC series brings less pressure from a business sense. “With all seven events within Ireland it's much easier in terms of the logistics.” However, he hasn’t ruled out a BRC return. “We are working on a few things in that (BRC) regard but at the moment we are focussing on Galway.’ 

SPOTLIGHT

 Meanwhile and unable to pick an outright winner, the selection committee charged with deciding the venue to host a round of the World Rally Championship - subject to funding - for a three-year term beginning next year, eventually decided that the three locations - Tralee MTU, Limerick Racecourse and Waterford Quays, will rotate the venue to house the service park and media centre.

Speaking at the announcement last week Motorsport Ireland president Aiden Harper claimed that hosting an Irish round of the WRC “is predicated on securing government funding, a process that is currently underway.” 

Motorsport Ireland are seeking a €15 million package over a three-year term. At each location, the selection committee were met by political representatives and relevant stakeholders. 

“What I and the rest of the selection committee have witnessed has been truly amazing. All proposals and presentations were exceptional, each location had some unique aspects, they were all different in their approach and we believe that most WRC events around the world would be delighted with any of them as a service park. No one particular location came out head and shoulders above the other two. 

"Each location has so much to give and showcased the country in a slightly different way but each area of Ireland is spectacular in its own right, offering challenging stages, beautiful television backdrops, all of which were taken into consideration.” 

The selection committee consulted with the WRC Promoter before making their decision. “It would be wrong to limit the spectacle to one location. So, we propose all three locations and move from one to another, year after year.” The decision on funding is expected during the first week of March.

This weekend’s Cork 1000 Shakes Navigation Trial is a counting round of both the Motorsport Ireland National Navigation Championship and the Munster Navigation series. Based at the Aghinagh GAA complex, the 110-mile route will have a mid-event fuel stop.