Eurosport Events, promoter of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) is delighted to announce the 2010 IRC calendar, featuring 12 rounds with a mix of legendary and well-established events across Europe and South America.
For the second consecutive year, the series will start with the oldest and most prestigious event: the Rallye Monte Carlo. In 2010, it will become the most-televised rally in the sport’s history with full live coverage from the stages.
The three new events joining the IRC calendar next year include the Rally Argentina, the Rally dItalia Sardegna and the FxPro Cyprus Rally which will form the grand finale of the season in November.
Next year’s IRC season will be run on a 50-50 mix of asphalt and gravel rallies, plus two mixed-surface events.
2010 IRC CALENDAR *
Round 1 19-23 January Rallye Monte-Carlo Monaco (a)
Round 2 4-06 March Rally Internacional de Curitiba Brazil (g)
Round 3 19-21 March Rally Argentina** Argentina (g)
Round 4 04-06 June Rally dItalia Sardegna Italy (g)
Round 5 24-26 June Belgium Ypres Rally Belgium (a)
Round 6 15-17 July Sata Rally Açores Portugal (g)
Round 7 05-07 August Rally Vinho Madeira Portugal (a)
Round 8 27-29 August Barum Czech Rally Zlín Czech Republic (a)
Round 9 09-11 September Rally Principe de Asturias Spain (a)
Round 10 23-25 September Rallye Sanremo Italy (a-g)
Round 11 14-16 October RAC MSA Rally of Scotland UK (g)
Round 12 04-06 November FxPro Cyprus Rally Cyprus (a-g)
*Pending FIA approval
** Pending commercial agreement with rally event promoter
(a) asphalt / (g) gravel / (a-g) mix-surface
This exciting calendar reflects the increasing status of IRC in world motorsport, with more and more prestigious events joining our series. We have taken a number of major steps forward with high levels for both competition and ground-breaking live TV coverage. This contributes to the spectacular rise in the profile of the series" said Géraldine Filiol, Managing Director of Eurosport Events.
"For 2010, we are embarking on our most ambitious season yet: not only do we start the season with the legendary Monte Carlo Rally with fully 14 hours of live action, but we will extend this innovative Live television production to 4 other events across the year, to provide unrivalled access for fans and great value to competitors and commercial partners" she added.
The 2010 IRC starts its most exciting season yet in Monte Carlo