Organisers of the Gowran Festival of Speed have said that insurers have put the brakes on the event by insisting that participating cars must remain static.
The event was due to be held last weekend in Gowran Park for the seventh successive year.
Gowran Park General Manager Eddie Scally said that organisers of the event, which showcases celebrity rally drivers, made the decision to cancel rather than host a show marketed as one built on speed but ultimately involving no movement whatsoever.
Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, he said: "It wouldn’t make for much of a spectacle for people coming expecting to see a speed event where every car is parked," he said.
"It was ridiculous and we felt that the backlash by cancelling late would be far better than the backlash of running the event and not having any driving," he added.
"The first year we ran the festival we had no problem getting insurance. But over the last number of years, it became increasingly difficult to find a policy that would match our event," he added.
"The policies went from €650 up to costing €4,000 and €5,000 which we could live with. But last year we ran into serious difficulties trying to get the event insured," Mr Scally explained.
"Every year prior to that it was English companies that insured us and last year none of them showed any appetite for us. We ended up having to get a company in France to ensure the event.
"The reason we got it over the line was because we were in Covid restrictions and it was restricted to 500 people".
Organisers received a final quote on Tuesday of last week but the insurance company concerned was not willing to allow rally drivers to drive on the track.
"The problem that we had was the insurance companies insisted on a static show and we had been showcasing and selling this as the Gowran Festival of Speed for the last six years," Mr Scally said.
