The star-studded list includes 18 drivers in headlining R5 and Super 2000 cars and 19 of the sport’s most promising future talents in the ERC Junior Championship. Eighteen nations will be represented on the challenging Tarmac roads of Northern Ireland over the Bank Holiday weekend, with Belfast’s Titanic Quarter hosting the action and a share of a 20,000 prize fund, pledged by ERC promoter Eurosport Events, up for grabs.

 With the first running of the event in 1931, the Circuit of Ireland is the third oldest rally in the world and the list of former winners includes legends such as Paddy Hopkirk and Colin McRae. However, drivers from Finland have dominated in recent years with Juho Hänninen and Esapekka Lappi winning in 2012 and 2014 respectively prior to claiming the prestigious European title.

 This year’s event covers 215.22 kilometres and begins with a 3.22-kilometre Qualifying Stage on Thursday 2 April, which will help to determine the running order for leg one. Friday’s action contains eight stages totalling 87.04 kilometres and includes two visits to the famous Hamilton’s Folly test. The day finishes with two runs over the Newtownards TT street stage when more than 25,000 fans are expected to watch the action. Ten stages, covering a distance of 128.18 kilometres, are scheduled for Saturday with crews twice tackling the rally’s longest test – the 26.02 kilometres of McGaffins Corner – in addition to two passes through Lisburn’s town centre stage ahead of the evening finish in Belfast.

 ERC ace Breen eager to join Circuit of Ireland heroes

Craig Breen aims to follow in a long and distinguished line of Irish drivers to win the Circuit of Ireland Rally, and in particular his “absolute hero and inspiration” Frank Meagher. An Irish rallying legend, Meagher won the Circuit in 1992 in a Ford Sierra Cosworth and, for the next 10 years, his spectacular driving style captured young Breen’s imagination. A good haul of ERC points is still the most important goal for the Peugeot Rally Academy 208 T16 driver, but there is no denying that Breen, a winner last time out in Latvia, would dearly love to add Circuit glory to his impressive CV. “I’ve got a big thing in my heart for the Circuit of Ireland,” said Breen. “It’s always been a dream of mine to follow my hero and put my name on the winner’s trophy too.”

 Ireland versus Europe in intriguing ERC Tarmac encounter

Some of Ireland’s best drivers will go head-to-head for victory with Europe’s elite on the Discover Northern Ireland Circuit of Ireland Rally. In addition to Craig Breen, other Irish hopefuls include brothers Sam and Josh Moffett, who begin their ERC campaigns in identical Ford Fiesta RRCs, and Dublin’s Robert Barrable, who finished third on the event last year. Jonny Greer will be one to watch in his Citroën DS3 R5, Martin McCormack has recent world championship experience, while Stephen Wright graduates from ERC Junior. Alastair Fisher, nephew of event legend Bertie Fisher, gets a Ford Fiesta R5 for his Circuit return and will be a contender for victory. Of the European contingent, top Pole and ERC leader Kajetan Kajetanowicz makes his Circuit debut in a LOTOS Rally Team Fiesta R5, while Charles Martin’s event preparations were given a boost when the 208 Rally Cup champion won his class on Rallye du Touquet – the Frenchman’s first outing in his Peugeot Rally Academy 208 T16. Czech drivers Jaromír Tarabus and Antonín Tlusťák (both ŠKODA Fabia S2000) are asphalt experts, although Alexey Lukyanuk (Belarus) and Estonia’s Raul Jeets have limited sealed-surface experience. Robert Consani will debut his new Citroën DS3 R5. Although he has started the Circuit of Ireland twice he admits a tough test is in prospect: “A difficult task awaits us with the learning of this car, the work of adjustments looks huge, but we are looking forward to familiarising ourselves with this fantastic car.” Elsewhere Italian Giacomo Costenaro is armed with a Peugeot 207 S2000, while Scottish champion Euan Thorburn will swap gravel for asphalt for his ERC programme. All drivers will challenge for points in the ERC Asphalt Masters, which begins in Northern Ireland, and recognises the performances of surface specialists competing in the championship.

 ERC2 head-to-head for Botka and Štajf in Northern Ireland

Dávid Botka makes his Circuit of Ireland debut with a slender two-point ERC2 class lead. Having recently returned from a family holiday in Bali, the 30-year-old Hungarian prepared for the event by taking his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX to a short 40-kilometre rally in Orfű. Vojtěch Štajf is second in ERC2, and while the Tarmac expert has never competed in Northern Ireland before, he was a spectator on Rally Ireland in 1997. The Subaru Impreza WRX STI driver has likened the Circuit stages to the narrow, bumpy and undulating tests in his native Czech Republic. Krisztián Hideg has shown great pace this year, but running position and luck haven’t been on his side. The Mitsubishi driver has a great chance to close the gap on the leaders and re-ignite his title challenge. Tibor Érdi makes his first appearance in the 2015 ERC, while glamour model Inessa Tushkanova will hope her Circuit debut – and new Lancer – will help her to the lead in the ERC Ladies’ Trophy.

 Record-breaking ERC Junior entry prepares to go flat-out in Northern Ireland

A record-breaking 19 drivers will compete for ERC Junior honours on the Discover Northern Ireland Circuit of Ireland Rally, and an intriguing mix of Tarmac experts and novices will make it a fascinating and furious encounter. ADAC Opel Rallye Junior Team’s Emil Bergkvist (Sweden) triumphed in Latvia and, like team-mate Marijan Griebel (Germany), has tackled a handful of practice events during this Circuit build-up. Julius Tannert starts in Northern Ireland on the back of winning the ADAC Saarland-Pfalz Rallye in his native Germany, while Gino Bux has also tasted victory in recent weeks, taking his Peugeot Belgium Luxembourg 208 to Junior and 2WD class success – plus fifth overall – on the Spa Rally. Poland’s Aleks Zawada was battling for a podium position on last year’s Circuit until two punctures on the final day dropped him to fifth. He will undoubtedly be fast, as he pilots his Opel Motorsport-supported Adam R2 on Tarmac for the first time. Steve Røkland (208) arrives in Northern Ireland second in ERC Junior and has previous experience of competing in the country through his past British championship exploits. Ralfs Sirmacis is third in ERC Junior, and a two-day Tarmac test in the Czech Republic has prepared him well. He will be joined by his Sport Racing Technologies team-mate Vasily Gryazin (both in 208s). Portugal’s Diogo Gago will have a new Peugeot Rally Academy 208, while 18-year-old Hungarian Kristóf Klausz will debut a 208 having made the switch from his Renault Clio R3. Łukasz Pieniążek prefers Tarmac to gravel, and despite not knowing the Northern Irish lanes should impress in his 208. Mattias Adielsson rolled his 208 on Rally Liepāja, yet the double Swedish R2 champion still showed huge potential by finishing fourth. Florin Tincescu will make his first ERC start of 2015 in a new Napoca Rally Academy 208, having swapped from a Citroën C2R2 Max over the winter. With a new car, a new co-driver in Sergiu Itu and his first Circuit appearance, the Romanian is likely to make a cautious start. There is plenty of British and Irish talent that will be counting the Circuit as their trump card. Chris Ingram led last year before crashing out, but the performance earned him the Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy. He returns in a Peugeot UK-supported 208. Local aces Jon Armstrong (Peugeot) and Calvin Beattie should impress in Northern Ireland, with Beattie, Irishman Kevin Eves, England’s Gus Greensmith and Scot Fergus Barlow making their first starts in ERC Junior. Pre-event quotes from all ERC Junior drivers are attached.

 Rally return for ERC Ladies’ Trophy champion

ERC Ladies’ Trophy champion Ekaterina Stratieva, from Bulgaria, returns to action with new co-driver Julianna Nyírfás, who partnered Zoltán Bessenyey to back-to-back ERC 2WD titles in 2013 and 2014. Rok Turk (Peugeot 208 R2) and Szabolcs Várkonyi (Honda Civic Type R) will be aiming to make up ground in the ERC3 title race against the 19 ERC Junior contenders who are also eligible for category points.

EVENT ESSENTIALS (all timings local)

Starts: 19h00, Thursday 2 April, Belfast City Hall

Finishes: 18h45, Saturday 4 April, Titanic Quarter, Belfast

Headquarters: Titanic House, 6 Queens Road, Belfast BT3 9DT

Service park: Titanic Quarter, Belfast

ERC appearances (since the restructuring in 2004): One (2014)

Stages: 18

Stage distance: 215.22 kilometres (87.04 kilometres leg one, 128.18 kilometres leg two)

Liaison: 462.47 kilometres

Total: 677.69 kilometres

Surface: Asphalt

MEDIA EVENTS AND INFORMATION (all timings local)

Media accreditation/media centre: Titanic House, 6 Queens Road, Belfast BT3 9DT

Opening times: 07h00-20h00, Thursday 2 April; 07h00-00h00, Friday 3 April; 07h00-22h00, Saturday 4 April

Thursday 2 April

Free Practice (for priority drivers): 11h00-12h30, Whinney Hill (3.22 kilometres), 10.87 kilometres from the service park

Qualifying Stage (for priority drivers): 14h00, Whinney Hill (3.22 kilometres)

Shakedown (for non-priority drivers): 15h00-16h15, Whinney Hill (3.22 kilometres)

Autograph signing session: 17h30-18h00, Belfast City Hall

Start order selection: 18h00, Belfast City Hall

Pre-rally press conference: Immediately following the start order selection

Ceremonial start: 19h00, Belfast City Hall

Saturday 4 April

Post-event press conference: 19h15, Titanic Quarter, Belfast. Top three drivers and co-drivers and leading ERC Junior crew in attendance

Colin McRae ERC Flat Out Trophy presentation: Immediately following the post-event press conference, Media Centre

Event media contact: Rosemary Allister, rosemary.allister@jprni.com, +44 7880 504928

Television coverage: A preview show, daily highlights and the post-event Inside ERC magazine programme will be broadcast on Eurosport

ERC Rally Radio: Live throughout the event at Fiaerc.com or through the ERC app

Results, standings, live timing and text commentary: Fiaerc.com

Rights-free images: Register at the media lounge section of Fiaerc.com