Rally GB back on 2010 WRC schedule
The proposed calendar for next year's World Rally Championship includes Rally Great Britain, despite it originally being dropped for the 2010 schedule due to the event rotation policy
The loss of candidate rallies in Indonesia and Russia, and Monte Carlo's decision to run as an Intercontinental Rally Challenge event again next year has opened the door for three replacements to step in, one of which is Rally GB.
The calendar - put together by the WRC's global promoter International Sportsworld Communicators - will be put forward to the FIA at next month's World Motor Sport Council meeting in Paris.
There are likely to be objections to the schedule, which does not include the Acropolis Rally or an event in Italy, but sources inside the FIA have indicated that it is unlikely to be refused by the World Motor Sport Council because the calendar is the responsibility of the promoter.
Rally GB's inclusion in the 2010 WRC comes as a major boost to the Cardiff-based event's legal battle with its sponsor and host Wales. The Welsh Assembly government had terminated its contract with Rally GB on the basis that it would not be hosting a full round of the WRC in 2010, which is not now the case.
In the absence of the Monte Carlo Rally, the championship is scheduled to start in Sweden. The first half of the year will include flyaway rallies in Mexico, Jordan and New Zealand. Bulgaria is on the list, but its position will be clarified once the 2009 candidate event has run later this season.
Should Rally Bulgaria not come up to scratch, Rally Argentina will be included in its place as the South American event is the official reserve for 2010.
The only other change for next year is that the number of rallies increases from 12 to 13.
2010 WRC calendar
Swedish Rally
Rally Mexico
Rally of Portugal
Rally Jordan
Rally Turkey
Rally New Zealand
Rally Bulgaria
Rally Finland
Rally Deutschland
Rally Japan
Tour de Corse
Rally Catalunya
Rally GB
Reserve: Rally Argentina
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