The entry list for the Rally Ireland, the opening round🅰 of the 2009 World Rally Championship, has ⛄been announced with a total of 43 runners, including 21 WRC specification drivers.

Following the withdrawal of Subaru and Suzuki over the off-season, there were fears this year's championship would see thin entry lists, particul😼arly amongst the WRC competito♕rs.

Nonetheless, Citroen and Ford - the two remaining manufacturer entries leftജ in the championship - will enter 11 factory or semi-works cars between them, while local entrants will make up𒐪 the remainder of the field.

Leading the way is reigning champion Sebastien Loeb, who will begin his quest for a sixth world title, and C🃏i💧troen team-mate Dani Sordo, the pair looking to repeat their 1-2 result on the inaugural running of the event back in 2007.

Ford, meanwhile, will enter three factory prepared cars for Mikko Hirvonen,🃏 Jari-Matti Latvala and Khalid Al-Qassimi.

The Rally Ireland also marks the debut outing for the newly formed Citroen Junior Team, which will enter a three-strong driver line-up in the shape of Subaru refugee Chris Atkinson, Junior World Ra🌊lly Cham𒉰pion Sebastien Ogier and Conrad Rautenbach.

Ford will also have their Stobart Motorsport 🍎'B-team' out in force too, with Matthew Wilson and Henning Solberg being joined by Urmo Aava, who switches from the privately run PH-Sport Citroen team.

Beyond the expecꦡted frontrunners, local interest will be maintained in the form of Stephen Murphy, Tim McNult🎀y, Eamonn Boland and Welshman Gareth Jones, all driving Subaru Imprezas, while Michael Barrable, Ray Breen and three members of the McHale family - Austin, Gareth and Aaron - will drive Ford Focus'.

In additi🗹on, the event will also host the first roun♊d of the Junior World Rally Championship with a field of eight cars led by Aaron Burkart in his Suzuki Swift S1600. Martin Prokop will also be competing, driving a Citroen C2 S1600.