Circuit of Ireland rally axed for 2013

The world renowned event is traditionally held over the Easter weekend, and was last year watched by a television audience of nearly nine million people after being included in the IRC series.

The event had been provisionally named in the 2013 FIA European Rally Championship calendar.

But organisers have now taken the difficult decision to pull the plug on next year's event.

"This is an extremely painful judgement for me to make and one that I do not enter into lightly," Rally Director Bobby Willis said.

This is not the end for the Circuit of Ireland Rally and I, along with the 700 volunteers it takes to run the rally, will regroup and begin planning now for 2014.

Bobby Willis, Circuit of Ireland

Having taken over the reins three years ago, he had publically expressed concerns in October over funding for 2013.

"We have received significant backing from Government, but we were falling short of our full funding requirements and - given the delay this has imposed - it is now impossible to organise an international sporting event in less than three months," Willis said.

While he recognises the disappointment for fans, he added: "Over the last three years, I have invested my own money and resources into getting the rally up and running - in the hope that funding would materialise before the event.

"I am no longer willing to play Russian roulette with my own finances in order to safeguard a rally that has worldwide appeal, even though it is so close to my heart."

While Willis recognises that staging the Circuit of Ireland is a "huge logistical challenge", he insisted it was one with plenty of rewards.

"It offers incredible tourism potential and rewards, as last year proved with picture-perfect postcard images of Northern Ireland broadcast around the globe," he said.

Last year's event featured a special stage at Belfast's Titanic Quarter and was eventually won by Finland's Juno Hänninen in his Skoda Fabia S2000.