The FIA have confirmed that Rally Ireland will be the first event of the year in 2009.
The event is scheduled to run from 29 January to 1 February, according to the world governing body as they set out the 2009 world rally championship calendar.
Rally Ireland was the penultimate round of this year's series.
World champion Sebastien Loeb won this year's event in the north and northwest ahead of Citreon team-mate Dani Sordo.
