QUOTE
New Zealand has been proposed as a round of the World Rally Championship for the next three years after the world governming body released a propsed calendar.
For the first time the world motorsport body FIA has released a three-year calendar for the championship that includes the Rally New Zealand.
In 2005 Rally New Zealand will celebrate its 35th anniversary and 27th year it has hosted a round of the WRC, which dates back to 1977 when it was first included on the world calendar.
Rally New Zealand officials were delighted with the news which followed a high powered meeting of FIA, WRC teams and leading organisers in Paris.
It is expected that the dates will be ratified at October's meeting of the World Motorsport Council.
"The FIA has been working for some time to try and create a long term WRC calendar and we are absolutely delighted that New Zealand continues to be included as a round of the World Rally Championship,'' Rally New Zealand chairman Mr Morrie Chandler said.
"There are a number of very rich and powerful countries lining up to get on board the championship. They know what a significant impact it can make to the sport and to the country, both in terms of exposure to a massive worldwide television and media audience and in economic spend.'
"Our impact reports suggest that the New Zealand round of the World Rally Championship brings an economic benefit of approximately $50 million to the Auckland region.
"We are a volunteer group of about 2000 people who put on this event every year, and so it is both quite remarkable that we are able to produce a world-class event, and very rewarding for the incredible amount of work that is put in across the board.
Next year's rally date has been scheduled for April 7-10, fourth round of the 2005 WRC, It is intended that this date will become the regular spot for the New Zealand round in what is proposed as a three-year rolling calendar integrated with the Formula 1 Championship.
"We are thrilled that we've been included in the calendar, and that this has been extended to three years which will help us to plan ahead with more certainty.''
If the proposed dates remain, the two premier motorsport events in thsi country will be held in successive weeks, with the V8 Supercar round scheduled for Pukekohe a week later.
The full 2005 World Rally Championship calendar is:
Monte Carlo - January 20-23
Sweden - February 10-13
Mexico - March 10-13
New Zealand - April 7-10
Italy - April 28-May 1
Cyprus - May 12-15
Turkey - May 28-29
Greece - June 16-19
Argentina - July 7-10
Finland - August 4-7
Germany - August 25-28
Great Britain - September 15-18
Japan - September 29-October 2
Corsica - October 13-16
Spain - October 27-30
Australia - November 10-13
For the first time the world motorsport body FIA has released a three-year calendar for the championship that includes the Rally New Zealand.
In 2005 Rally New Zealand will celebrate its 35th anniversary and 27th year it has hosted a round of the WRC, which dates back to 1977 when it was first included on the world calendar.
Rally New Zealand officials were delighted with the news which followed a high powered meeting of FIA, WRC teams and leading organisers in Paris.
It is expected that the dates will be ratified at October's meeting of the World Motorsport Council.
"The FIA has been working for some time to try and create a long term WRC calendar and we are absolutely delighted that New Zealand continues to be included as a round of the World Rally Championship,'' Rally New Zealand chairman Mr Morrie Chandler said.
"There are a number of very rich and powerful countries lining up to get on board the championship. They know what a significant impact it can make to the sport and to the country, both in terms of exposure to a massive worldwide television and media audience and in economic spend.'
"Our impact reports suggest that the New Zealand round of the World Rally Championship brings an economic benefit of approximately $50 million to the Auckland region.
"We are a volunteer group of about 2000 people who put on this event every year, and so it is both quite remarkable that we are able to produce a world-class event, and very rewarding for the incredible amount of work that is put in across the board.
Next year's rally date has been scheduled for April 7-10, fourth round of the 2005 WRC, It is intended that this date will become the regular spot for the New Zealand round in what is proposed as a three-year rolling calendar integrated with the Formula 1 Championship.
"We are thrilled that we've been included in the calendar, and that this has been extended to three years which will help us to plan ahead with more certainty.''
If the proposed dates remain, the two premier motorsport events in thsi country will be held in successive weeks, with the V8 Supercar round scheduled for Pukekohe a week later.
The full 2005 World Rally Championship calendar is:
Monte Carlo - January 20-23
Sweden - February 10-13
Mexico - March 10-13
New Zealand - April 7-10
Italy - April 28-May 1
Cyprus - May 12-15
Turkey - May 28-29
Greece - June 16-19
Argentina - July 7-10
Finland - August 4-7
Germany - August 25-28
Great Britain - September 15-18
Japan - September 29-October 2
Corsica - October 13-16
Spain - October 27-30
Australia - November 10-13
Good to hear
