Committee set to back major rally event
Last updated | 22/02/2008
The Enterprise and Infrastructure Committee is set to approve financial support that will help bring a major international rally event to Perth and Kinross in 2009.
The committee will be asked to award International Motor Sports up to £35,000 to part-fund a local stage of the International Rally Challenge (IRC), at a meeting on Wednesday January 30.
The IRC is a new category of motor racing endorsed by the FIA. It was created in 2007 with great success. The 2008 series will include rounds in places such as Kenya, Portugal, Russia, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and China.
The committee will be told that the event promoters believe the 2009 event needs a UK stage, and Scotland is their preference. Although a route has yet to be confirmed, the proposals are for a three-day Scottish stage which would include the Highland and Stirling areas as well as Perth and Kinross. This Perthshire stage is set to be held in October.
A report to the committee says that the event could attract up to 115,000 spectators, generate 3,400 bed nights for the economy, generate a spectator spend of around £2.5m and have a total positive impact on the Scottish economy estimated at £10m. Perth and Kinross would benefit significantly.
It would also generate considerable international media coverage for Perth and Kinross. The local event will receive two hours of promotional coverage on Europsport Networks across the world and 30 minutes of live coverage, with an estimated audience of 15-20 million people.
Committee Convener, Councillor John Kellas, said: "There would be substantial benefits to hosting this event for Perth and Kinross. The rally will showcase some of the most beautiful places in the world as a backdrop, and Perth and Kinross surely fits that bill. As well as promoting the area to a worldwide audience this event could give the local economy a real boost."
The Committee will also decide whether to award £23,500 to the 2008 Perth Festival of the Arts.
The Festival is in its 37th year and is one of the main events in the area's cultural calendar. The Festival continues to grow, and this year's programme includes The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, The Levellers, The London Community Gospel Choir, Courtney Pine, Arthur Smith and The Russian State Symphony Orchestra.
The Committee report says that the 2006 Festival generated around £300,000 worth of national media coverage for Perth, and that the 2008 event is expected to have a positive economic impact of over £450,000.
