AUCKLAND TO HOST 2010 RALLY NEW ZEALAND
2009-08-26 13:23:59 Author: admin Source:
Rally New Zealand, the local round of the FIA World Rally Championship, will return to Auckland in 2010.
Organisers have confirmed an agreement with Auckland City Council, supported by Tourism Auckland, which sees the major event based in Auckland from 6 to 9 May, 2010.
“We’re delighted to bring Rally New Zealand back to Auckland with the largest population base in the country,” says Chris Carr, chairman of the rally organisation.
“We extend our sincere thanks to Hamilton City Council, Mystery Creek Events Centre and the many organisations which have helped Rally New Zealand be a fantastic event in the Waikato over the past three years.
“However, many positive opportunities become available with the shift back to Auckland, not least the much closer access for larger numbers of rally fans to all the rally action, teams, drivers and cars, which we are optimistic will contribute to a very vibrant and successful running of Rally New Zealand in May 2010.
“Rally New Zealand is one of the WRC drivers’ most popular rallies. They absolutely love driving on New Zealand roads – just as we have a great heritage of getting out and enjoying the top level skills of these drivers among our beautiful scenery,” says Carr.
The event attracts extensive worldwide television coverage with an estimated audience of over 50 million in 186 countries. The agreement between Rally New Zealand and Auckland City Council covers the next three occurrences of the event, says Carr.
“With the way the WRC calendar is currently scheduled, after 2010, the next Rally New Zealand will be in Auckland in 2012. However we are working hard to put New Zealand back onto the WRC calendar on an annual basis. We note that Rally Finland has just signed a five year deal with the WRC promoters, ISC, to again run an annual event. Like Rally New Zealand, Rally Finland was affected by the FIA decision to go to an alternating biennial schedule between rallies around the world.”
Rally New Zealand was based in Hamilton in 2008, 2007 and 2006, with its headquarters and service park at Mystery Creek Events Centre. Prior to 2006 the event – the longest running world championship event in New Zealand – was based in Auckland for 28 years.
Rally New Zealand takes place from 6 to 9 May 2010 and is expected to be the fifth round of a 13-round 2010 FIA World Rally Championship.
Brief facts about Rally New Zealand
- Rally New Zealand was first run in 1969 and was first included as a round of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) World Rally Championship in 1977, making it the longest-running world championship event in the Southern Hemisphere.
- Rally New Zealand was named the WRC Rally of the Year in 2001.
- With just one break in 1974 until last year’s FIA decision to adopt a biennial calendar from 2008 onwards, Rally New Zealand has run 39 times, 34 of these consecutively between 1975 and 2008.
