The bitter dispute which threatened the future of 2010 motorsport calendar has been resolved.
It follows a meeting in Portlaoise last night between Motorsport Ireland Rallies Committee and the Motorsport Commission.
The dispute resulted from anger about the actions of an official at the Donegal Rally in June and evolved to include dissatisfaction with current Motorsport Ireland President John Naylor.
The controversy was sparked with alleged illegal refuelling of Gareth MacHale’s winning Ford Focus in Donegal.
A judge of fact, Robert Corrigan, took photographs of the alleged incident, but instead of presenting evidence to the event stewards, he chose not to mention it until he spoke to senior officials in Motorsport Ireland the following day.
It was decided that the photo evidence presented was inconclusive and didn’t incriminate MacHale.
Subsequently, MacHale’s father, Austin, wrote to the Rallies Committee to vent his feelings.
This letter was read out at the public meeting as well as a letter of complaint to the Rallies Committee from Donegal Motor Club
This led to multiple resignations from the rallies committee and the resignation of the chief executive of Motorsport Ireland resigned Alex Sinclair.
A statement was release following last nights meeting which says that that all outstanding issues have been resolved and that the 2010 motorsport calendar will now commence on the 1st January with the support of all parties.
