Rally Isle of Man powered by Microgaming has been nominated for an award at this week’s Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence, the biggest annual such event held on the island.
The three day rally is the islands flagship four wheeled motorsport event and has been nominated in the Freedom to Flourish category.
It follows a highly successful re-invigoration of the event over the last three years, that included last years 50th Anniversary edition and this September’s running that received high praise for its organisation and promotion.
“We see it as an accolade to be nominated”, says Chairman John Gill. “This major event with all its complexities is run entirely by volunteers, working year-long to produce three days of the highest quality motorsport for competitors, officials, spectators and media alike, that follows in the traditions of being one of the best known events in UK motorsport. It is for everyone connected with the event in any way that we are thrilled to be up for such a prestigious award.”
The event this year regained its place in each of the biggest three rally series in the British isles, including returning to the pinnacle MSA British Rally Championship as a series deciding double points scoring round, its equivalent Irish Tarmac Championship and the British Historic Championship.
It was also a double round qualifier in the Manx Rally Championship, with competitors from Australia, Belgium, France and Japan contesting the rally, as well as all of the home countries.
Television coverage of the drama-packed event was (and continues to be) shown in various packages throughout the world and some of the best weather anyone connected with the rally can remember ensured the island was shown off at its late-summer best.
Showing the diversity of the awards, the other nominees in the category are the Isle of Man Government’s Department of Economic Development’s e-Business team, and the Isle of Man Creamery.
Rally Isle of Man’s principle sponsor, Microgaming, is also nominated in the Corporate Social Responsibility category.
“This is the island’s business sector’s big night out, so it’s excellent for the profile of the rally to have such a presence”, says Gill. “Planning for the 2015 event is well underway, with a continued drive to bring in new ideas and cement our place as one of the ultimate challenges in the sport. Meantime, it’s great to just stop for a night and look back at how far we’ve come in a short space of time, which is what this nomination shows us.”
So, it’s glad rags on and an enjoyable night in prospect to celebrate another step in the re-emergence of Rally Isle of Man with an early start to the party season. Taking home the award would be the icing on the cake!
