Record Number of Visitors to 2010 Toddsleap.com Ulster
Rally…
2010 Ulster Rally Moves into Top
Gear…….
Toddsleap.com Ulster Rally organisers alongside Antrim Borough
Council and rally HQ hosts Junction One International Outlet
Shopping Centre are celebrating a record number of spectator and
visitor numbers to this year’s high profile Ulster Rally as well as
a contribution of £2.4 million to the Northern Ireland economy.
Held in August, the Toddsleap.com Ulster Rally attracted nearly
27,000 people to Antrim and the surrounding region including
officials, spectators, teams and competitors and both local and
international media.
Organising committee, Northern Ireland Motor Club also achieved
a major accolade as one of Ulster Rally’s five individual events,
Rally NI made history by picking up the Best International Rally
trophy for the second consecutive year, at the recent British Rally
Championship Awards held in Manchester. The award was first
presented to the Ulster Rally team in 2005 and this latest success
marks the third time in the last six years that the event has been
singled out for praise.
Said Clerk of Course, Michael Johnston, ” We’re delighted to
bring the trophy back to Antrim for yet another year and it’s a
tribute to all the hard work carried out by both volunteers and our
organising committee. We would also like to pay tribute to the
superb facilities at Junction One and in the Antrim Borough Council
area and to the Northern Ireland Tourist Board for both their
funding and support.”
Ulster Rally this year drew 143 competitors from throughout the
world including Holland, France, Finland, Australia, Iceland, Isle
of Man, GB and Ireland and generated 97% occupancy levels in the
Antrim area during the two night period of the rally.
Congratulating Ulster Rally on the success of this year’s event
Mayor of Antrim Cllr Pam Lewis said, “Ulster Rally has helped to
further raise the profile of the Antrim region by attracting
international media and increased levels of visitors to the town
centre and further afield. Council would also like to congratulate
the team on this very special award and we look forward to
welcoming back the event to Antrim in 2011.”
Complimenting the Ulster Rally team on this year’s success,
Leona Barr, centre manager of Junction One said, “During rally
week-end Junction One was absolutely buzzing and it was fabulous to
attract new audiences to the Junction One retail experience.
Junction One is an integral part of Antrim’s tourism offer and we
were delighted to support the rally by providing central service
parks, Rally HQ and by hosting the official finishing ramp for all
five Ulster Rally events.”
Next year’s Toddsleap.com Ulster Rally is scheduled to take
place in Antrim and Junction One on 19th and
20th August 2011.
Ends
Media contact: Rosemary Allister, JPR Tel 028 9076 0066
or mobile 07880 504928 or mobile 07880 504928 or email rosemary.allister@jprni.com
