Falling entry levels force Mondello Rallycross cancellation
Mondello Park has reluctantly announced the cancellation of this weekends’ second round of the 2015 Irish Rallycross Championship due to on-going low entry levels.
Rallycross events at the circuit have been losing money for a number of years but due to the circuit managements’ desire to support the series, the move to cancel a championship round has been avoided until now.
In recent times a major promotional effort has been made by Motorsport Ireland’s Rallycross committee, along with some of the competitors, including the introduction of new classes and the announcement of a new circuit. In addition Mondello Park has worked hard to secure the return of the British Rallycross Championship for 2015, but even these initiatives have failed to produce the expected turn-around in the once popular sports’ fortunes.
Rallycross entries have been reducing steadily since 2011 and first dropped below the fifty mark in late 2012, despite being bolstered by the addition of a Kart Cross class. Since then the championship has struggled to attract interest, with the line-up dropping as low as thirty six cars at the last round of the 2014 championship back in November.
The 2015 season got underway on February 1st with the championships smallest ever entry and numbers have fallen further for round two despite competitors being made aware of the need to get their entries in. The low level of competitors booked in for Sunday’s event has left the circuit’s management with no choice other than to cancel the event.
The British Championship round in June is not affected by this cancellation. The remaining 2015 Irish Rallycross Championship events at Mondello Park will stay on the calendar and will run subject to sufficient entries being received.
