Waterford’s Craig Breen will defend his Circuit of Ireland rally title against top rally drivers from around the world when it kicks off on 7 April in Belfast.
Breen stormed to the title last year and will look to fend off talent from as far afield as China and Australia to keep his crown.
Reigning European champion Kajetan Kajetanowicz, Alexey Lukyanuk, leader of this year’s ERC series, as well as the leaders of the British and Irish Tarmac championships, Elfyn Evans and Keith Cronin, will also be chasing glory.
The Circuit of Ireland is the second of 10 rounds in the 2016 FIA European Rally Championship (ERC) and is also a counting round of the 2016 British Rally Championship (BRC) the Irish Tarmac Championship and is a counting round of the Northern Ireland Championship.
The qualifying stage of the rally will be based at Antrim Castle Gardens on Thursday 7 April, followed by a ceremonial start outside the Irish Linen Centre and Lisburn Museum from 6.30pm.
Rural stages close to Larne and Ballymena will take place on the Friday, in a route that takes in the Causeway Coast and Glens region encompassing Torr Head and Glendun, as well as a passage control at the Dark Hedges and a regroup at Bushmills Distillery.
On Saturday competitors will speed through Banbridge, Ballynahinch and Dromore before the climax back in Belfast that evening.
Event director Bobby Willis said: “I’m especially thrilled with the strength and breadth of this year’s entry which includes last year’s winner Waterford’s Craig Breen back to defend his title. It’s fantastic exposure for Northern Ireland and we’re looking forward to an exceptional competitor line-up on 7-9 April.”
