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Yorkshire set to host European Rally Championship round in 2015

The UK looks set to land a second round of the European Rally Championship in 2015 as series promoter Eurosport closes on a deal to run an event in Yorkshire

Eurosport's Francois Ribeiro is working hard to bring his rally series to the British mainland for the first time since the Intercontinental Rally Challenge's Rally of Scotland last ran in 2011.

The most likely candidate is a Harrogate-based Yorkshire event next autumn.

Despite the ERC slimming down to 10 rounds in 2015, Ribeiro said adding Yorkshire alongside Belfast's Circuit of Ireland would not be a problem.

"I consider that the Circuit is in Ireland and my goal is to be back on the mainland with a gravel event," said Ribeiro.

"I am discussing this with the people in Yorkshire on a regular basis. I am talking at the right level and, of course, I have been to look in Harrogate, which is a great place for the rally to be based we hope to have something there for next year."

Ribeiro said there had initially been discussions about running an ERC round in Yorkshire this season.

"They are busy with the Tour de France right now, so it was not possible [for this year]," said Ribeiro, "and I understand that. But, I said to them: 'What happens when the Tour de France is gone? You will feel very, very lonely...'

"We know what this feeling is like when you go from the very high level from the Tour de France, with everybody looking and speaking about your place.

"The funding and delivery of Tour de France has taken this year, but now we are looking to the future."

Craven Council leader Chris Knowles-Fitton has been involved in discussions as the proposed ERC rally would run through his area.

"We need international events in Yorkshire," he said.

"The Tour de France will only come once and something like the ERC is something we could do for a year or two."

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