Rally Ireland took over the grounds of Belfast's Parliament Buildings at Stormont this weekend to test a new bridge designed to add top-class excitement to the opening of the event.

Almost twenty top rally drivers including Jimmy McRae and Billy Coleman, were on hand to test the new Creagh Bridge, built by Northern Ireland company Creagh Concrete, which will provide an adrenaline-filled finale to the stage.

The four-day event opens with a Super Special Stage in Stormont on November 15th, where rally cars compete head to head over a specially-designed circuit of the Stormont grounds, finishing with a spectacular jump over the bridge.

Sport NI Chairman Eamonn McCartan said: "We are thrilled to be sponsors of Rally Ireland for the first time that the World Championship comes to these shores. This test is proof positive that we have the capacity to deliver world-class sporting events and our strong grounding in motorsport through the many clubs north and south will ensure that Rally Ireland in November is a treat for competitors and spectators alike."

John Rafferty, Head of Product Marketing at F?ilte Ireland was equally impressed by the test stage and said: "Our objective in sponsoring Rally Ireland is to showcase Ireland to the world as a truly spectacular natural sporting arena and tourism destination. Rally Ireland takes in eight counties, north and south, from the splendour of Stormont to the majestic mountains and countryside of Sligo and Donegal. We believe that Rally Ireland will showcase the very best welcome that Ireland has to offer in terms of scenery, hospitality and attractions to the world and encourage people to come back time and time again, and indeed bring new visitors for Rally Ireland when it is expected to return in 2009 and thereafter."

Rally Ireland makes its debut in the WRC this November with a four day cross-border event starting in Belfast and finishing in Sligo. The 1,100 km long event run on tarmac roads in the North West will be the island's largest sporting event attracting 150,000 spectators. The WRC has a global TV audience of more than 800 million viewers in 180 countries.

Rally Ireland is jointly funded by F?ilte Ireland and Sport NI. Under new proposals from the sport's governing body, the FIA, Ireland, subject to running a satisfactory premier event this November, would next host a round of the prestigious series in 2009 and again in 2011.