Irish drop Manx rally from series

Motorsport in the Island has suffered a disappointment.

Next year’s Rally Isle of Man has been axed as part of Ireland's premier rally series, the Tarmac Championship.

The Jim Clark Rally in Scotland has also been dropped as the championship goes from eight to six rounds 'in the light of economic conditions'.

However, it's being stressed that Rally Isle of Man retains its status as a round of the British Rally and British Historic Rally championships.

Manx Radio’s rally correspondent Chris Boyde believes the event's appeal will remain despite today's news, and hopes it's only a one year absence from the Irish calendar (play audio file):