Manx Rally goes International in 2022
Manx Auto Sport will bring an international status stage rally to the Isle of Man for the first time in many years, as their popular 13/14 May event will become a qualifying round of the FIA ERT Celtic Trophy and re-branded as the Manx Rally.
After being forced to cancel the 2020 and 2021 editions of the Manx National Rally, the enthusiastic organizing team have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to reinvigorate the highly-regarded Isle of Man event, with their plans for 2022 attracting the attentions of the prestigious European Rally series.
Along with competitors in the Celtic Trophy heading to the TT Grandstand in Douglas for the two-day blast across some of the island’s finest roads, the rally will also upgrade to full International status, enabling rally crews from across the globe to contest the event.
Competitors will be greeted with a spectacular line-up of 14 classic stages including Little London, Tholt-e-Will and Druidale comprising of around 100 stage miles across Friday and Saturday, including an infamous night-time leg to test even the most experienced of competitor.
As always, competitors of all abilities will be welcomed on the event with a National category also following the International route to suit those crews a little closer to home and will also be a counting round of the HRCR Stage Masters Historic Stage Rally Challenge, the Welsh Historic Rally Championship, and the ANWCC Rally Championship*.
Clerk of the Course Mark Quayle is delighted by the prospect of welcoming a European Rally Championship to the island in May.
“Like many motorsport events across Europe, we have suffered cancellations at the hands of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we have been working hard on the future of all Manx Auto Sport events” he says.
“We have been looking to bring a top-line rally series to the Isle of Man for some time and we are overjoyed to welcome an FIA ERT – Celtic Trophy Championship to the Manx Rally which subsequently lifts the stature and status of the rally to new heights in 2022.”
The European Rally Trophy comprises of events across Europe including Estonia, Switzerland, Cyprus and Finland, with the Manx Rally forming the UK and Ireland Celtic Trophy offering.
To aid logistic to the Isle of Man for overseas and UK crews, the event has enlisted the services of Official Travel Partner; Isle of Man Event Services* who will assist in travel arrangement for those wishing to travel to the event to compete, officiate or to spectate.
More information on the Manx Rally will be available in the coming weeks, with regulations expected to be revealed on 7 March 2022, with entries opening at 09:00hrs on 21 March 2022.
For up to date information, please visit https://manxautosport.org/ or follow the clubs Facebook pages
* Travel and accommodation information is available from our Official Travel Partner; Isle of Man Event Services on +44 1624 664460 or info@iomevents.com.
