The Motor Sports Association (MSA) has confirmed that the 2009 Rally of Great Britain will go ahead in Wales as planned, despite the Welsh Assembly Government's decision to withdraw funding for the event.

Rally GB, which is the UK stage of the FIA World Rally Championship, will be staged between 22 and 25 October after the MSA, UK motor sports' governing body, agreed to underwrite the cost of hosting the rally. International Motor Sports (IMS), the MSA's commercial subsidiary responsible for organising the event, has also confirmed that it will continue to pursue legal action against the Welsh Assembly Government for terminating a sponsorship agreement.

Alan Gow, chair of the MSA and IMS, said: "In recent years, the MSA has exercised prudent management of its finances to create a surplus in order to protect the sport against unforeseen circumstances. "Consequently, we have decided to underwrite this important and prestigious international event for the good of the sport, while continuing to pursue our extremely robust case against the Welsh Assembly Government for its breach of contract."