Challenge launched

The aim of the IRC is to give young rally drivers as well as amateur drivers new opportunities to compete together in recognized regional and international rallies.

For car manufacturers, the competition also gives the opportunity to participate in an international rally series with cost-effective regulations.

The IRC is reserved for cars belonging to one of the following categories: Super 2000, Gp N, Gp A 5/6/7.

For this new Intercontinental Challenge, the IRC will gather already well-known rally events in the same competition with prestigious events such as San Remo (ITA), Safari Rally (KEN), Ypres (BEL), Madeira (POR), Valais (SUI) and Barum (CZE).

The title "Winner of the 2007 Intercontinental Rally Challenge" will be awarded to the driver having totalled the highest number of points in the qualifying events.

Eurosport is the licensing agent for the worldwide media rights (including TV rights). The IRC will provide innovative TV coverage of the events including live shows, daily highlights and magazines conceived by Eurosport.

The series will be broadcast LIVE through Eurosport's network reaching over 108 millions homes across 54 countries and will also get extensive coverage on Eurosport 2, Eurosportnews and eurosport.com.

"We have selected our Rally partners on the basis of their popularity and their strong local history and heritage, of the number of participants and their perfect knowledge in the organisation of rallies" said Jacques Béhar, President of SRW Events. "We are today very proud to have such an impressive entry list for 2007!"

"Our objective is to attract more viewers and to develop the awareness of this new series" said Laurent-Eric Le Lay, Eurosport's Managing Director. "Thanks to our live transmissions, we will bring our viewers a unique dimension showing the atmosphere of rallies and getting closer to the drivers." he added.