The entry list for the Rally Ireland, the ⛎opening round of the 2009 World Rally Championship, has been announced with a ওtotal 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 ch🦩ampionship would see thin entry lists, particularly amongst the WRC competitors.

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

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

Ford, meanwhile, w﷽ill 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-stro💟ng driver line-up in the shape of Subaru refugee Chris Atkinson, Junior World Rally Champion 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 swꦿitches from the privately run PH-Sport Citroen team.

Beyond the expected frontrunners, local interest will be maintained in the form of Stephen Murphy, Tim McNulty, Eamonn Boland and Welshman Gareth Joneꦑs, all driving Subaru Imprez🌜as, while Michael Barrable, Ray Breen and three members of the McHale family - Austin, Gareth and Aaron - will drive Ford Focus'.

In addition, the event will also host the first round of the Junior World Rally Championship with a field of eight c💯ars l൲ed by Aaron Burkart in his Suzuki Swift S1600. Martin Prokop will also be competing, driving a Citroen C2 S1600.