David Bogie.
THE Ulster International Rally will NOT be heading back to north Antrim for a second successive season, Chronicle Sport can reveal.
Instead, the prestigious is relocating to a new base in Newry as part of broad sweeping changes being implemented by the NI Motor Club.
In addition, the event will be slimmed down to a one day meeting, with the competitive element taking place on Saturday August 17.
Event Director Richard Swanston claimed that a disappointing 2018 had persuaded organisers to look elsewhere.
"We had to make an event that is competitor friendly from a financial and logistical point of view," he said.
"By its very nature, the Ulster Rally has always moved around different parts of Northern Ireland," he added.