Motorsport:The FIA has announced that Ireland will host a round of the World Rally Championship every two years after the body met today to discuss the future of 24 venues.
Ireland is due to host its first rally in November this year and, subject to a successful debut, the event will return in 2009 and 2011.
"This is great news for Ireland and the culmination of three years hard work by thousands of volunteers and officials " said Rally Ireland founder Ronan Morgan. "We welcome the FIA move as it will introduce much needed stability into the series.
"Our team now has a clear goal to put on a top class event this year and so ensure a long term place in the world championship for the island of Ireland," said co-founder Sean O'Connor
The current series is comprised of 16 rounds in a season but a new format made up of 12 rounds will begin in 2009, allowing the stages to be alternated between 24 venues over two years.
November's first WRC outing in Ireland is expected to attract 150,000 spectators, making it the largest sporting event ever held here.
The four-day cross-border stage will be run on tarmac roads between Belfast and Sligo and is 1,100km long.