Taken from WRC.com,
Extra tarmac experience for Atkinson
Subaru World Rally Team driver Chris Atkinson will take part in the 2006 Rally Ireland, a candidate event the 2007 World Rally Championship. He will drive a Group N Subaru Impreza and will be partnered by regular co-driver, Glean Macneall.
"It's unfamiliar territory for me," said Atkinson, "but from what I've heard it's going to be a lot of fun. I've never been to Ireland before but I know it's a country where rallying is very popular and the local competition is bound to be pretty fierce. It's great to have the opportunity to get more asphalt kilometres under my belt, so I'm really looking forward to it."
"Gaining more experience on asphalt is one of Chris's development objectives this year," said SWRT performance director, David Lapworth. "The challenging stages in Ireland will be great practice for him."
First run in 2005, the rally features asphalt stages in Donegal, Fermanagh, Leitrim, Sligo and Tyrone and will be observed by the FIA with the intention of being included in the 2007 World Rally Championship calendar.
http://www.worldrallying.info/forum/viewthread.php?tid=4762
[Edited on 1-2-2006 by Eoiny]