2011 IRC calendar updated

The calendar for the 2011 Intercontinental Rally Challenge has been updated. It features 12 events, starting with the centenary edition of Rallye Monte-Carlo from 18-22 January and culminating with the Cyprus Rally from 3-5 November.

In between the series will visit Spain (Canary Islands), France (Corsica), Ukraine, Belgium, Portugal (Azores and Madeira), Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy and United Kingdom (Scotland).

In a change to the schedule published on 10 December, Rally de los Alerces, which had been due to form round two of the series, will no longer appear on the list of dates. Rally Islas Canarias El Corte Ingles, which joined the IRC for the first time in 2010, will count as the second event of the year from 14-16 April.

Two other changes have also been made to the calendar: Tour de Corse has moved back one week to 13-15 May, while the Mecsek Rallye in Hungary will take place on asphalt stages only having originally been set to use a combination of asphalt and gravel tests.

Marcello Lotti, the IRC General Manager, said: “Unfortunately, the organisers of Rally de los Alerces have faced difficulties with their main sponsor and were unable to confirm their position on the calendar. We will continue to have dialogue with them in the hope Argentina can return to the IRC in the future. While it is a shame Rally de los Alerces will not be on the 2011 calendar, the scheduling of Rally Islas Canarias as the second event of the season ensures the challenge and prestige of competing in the IRC remains.”

The full IRC calendar for 2011 is available here.