Bad news for Oz WRC fans

[Glen Alexander]

This was posted on the WRC.com news section on the 14th,

'The Safari Rally could make a surprise return to the World Rally Championship this year, following the intervention of the Kenyan government in the event's financial problems.

The event was dropped from the 2003 schedule because fees from the 2001 rally had still not been paid to motorsport's governing body, the FIA, last year. But the new Kenyan government led by President Kibaki, introduced following a general election late last year, is keen to see the Safari Rally return to the WRC, and has stepped in to help solve the problem.

"It is fair to say the financial issue is resolved and the FIA should receive those funds any day now," Shekhar Mehta, president of the FIA Rallies Commission, told autosport.com. "The new government is chasing positive publicity for the country and the Safari Rally is one method of gaining that."

Mehta admitted that teams had are already being consulted on possible routes for the event, and stated that it would retain a base in Nairobi.

Rally Australia is currently in danger of being dropped from the 2003 calendar and FIA president, Max Mosley, said that the Kenyan classic could take the place of the Australian event in September.

"Australia at the moment is looking doubtful," he said. "What complicates matters is that at the moment there has been an approach from the Kenyans. Their financial problems have been resolved and they are willing to run the rally in September. Ultimately it is down to the Rallies Commission whether or not it happens."

The Rallies Commission is scheduled to meet in April.'

There is a dispute between the West Australian Tourist Commission and the body of officials who run the rally. If it is not settled Max Mosley will scrub the event from this years calendar.

I say bring the rally back to Canberra if the organizers are going to carry on like this.

[brchi17]

I don't want to start a state war, but seeing that Victoria is the motorsport capital of Australia, it would only be fitting to see the rally moved to Melbourne, if Perth can't get its' act together. !!!!

This is one international event we can't afford to lose !!!

cheers:D

[Tumbo]

As much as i'd hate to see the great "marble" surface of WA canned for the NZ style forests of Vic.......i'd much rather see what is a great event remain part of the WRC, perhaps Vic could put in for the rally again...after the failed attempt in 2000.......good idea Brchi17....let's hope that the event...long regarded as one of "the best" in the championship...can stay a part of it

[SWRT]

If Perth loses Rally oz,then have it moved to Canberra in Winter.
Have the"Langly park SS"at Exhibition park(were prevoius Asia-Pacific ones have happened).Start with a Thursday spectacular at Exhibition park with 3 days forest action.Friday around Canberra(with Exhibition park).For a twist have Saturday racing in the Snowy Mountains(similar to Sweden) with the Super Specials final night and round Canberra again Sunday.
Have the final stage on the former Canberra 400 street circiut.
The round should be held around July-August and be a WRC/Asia Pacific/ARC round.
Possum Bourne would be the busiest going for ARC/Asia Pacific/PWRC points.
Not a bad idea?

[KiwiRallyFan]

I think it would be really sad to see Australia loose its WRC round. To make the WRC a truly international series, it needs good quality rallies outside Europe. Given the fact that the Safari rally in Kenya has been having a difficult life lately, that really only leaves New Zealand and Argentina (and I think Argentina has some troubles as well).

The WRC also needs rallies where the drivers can be showcased at their best. Some of the European (and Kenyan) rallies are nothing but car-breakers. The rallies down-under provide those great roads, and also give the WRC some exotic locations (from the European point of view). If the Aussie rally was to shift from Perth, it needs to go somewhere with decent roads, and to a location that 'looks like' Australia.

Also...I haven't seen any WRC rallies outside NZ, and I was hoping to make the trek over to WA sometime. I hope it stays there!.

On a positive note (for us Kiwis anyway), if Biante decide to model Possums 2003 car, they might have to do Rally NZ after all....:)

[ferrari fan]

It is the greenies and Labour that is playing silly buggers with this event and are seriously endangering the AUSTRALIAN round

[Esses]

Originally posted by brchi17
I don't want to start a state war, but seeing that Victoria is the motorsport capital of Australia, it would only be fitting to see the rally moved to Melbourne, if Perth can't get its' act together. !!!!

This is one international event we can't afford to lose !!!

cheers:D

Not to continue a state war, as I'm a Canberran, NOT a NSWelshman, but I thought a place called Bathurst had Australia's Premier Motor-race.
As for WRC, yeah, bring it back to the ACT, the view of the "forest" stages will be much better now that we've got rid of all those pesky trees!

[brchi17]

Steve, perhaps I should have wrote 'The Sporting Capital of Australia', sure Bathurst is in NSW, but where did it start ???

Anyway, Steve I think as long as we keep the WRC round in Australia that is the main aim.

Whether its in Victoria, Canberra, NSW, Tas, or anywhere for that matter, this is one race I'm sure everyone would argee we need to keep in Australia.

cheers.

[Esses]

Agree absolutely, Brchi. Yep, the Island started it, I even have a model from the '62 race, but Bathurst is the one. A while ago on this forum I suggested an enduro race (800km?) at the Island as a leadup to Bathurst, but didn't get a single response! Go figure.

[brchi17]

Steve I could understand why no one wants a 800km race at the island.

I love going down there to watch the V8's, because of the shear speed generated at the track.

Unfortunately in most years (last years' race an exception) we get a very average race for some reason or another (bikes tend to buck the system).

Whoever is running rally Australia needs to get their act together & make sure they don't lose this great event. We Australians have a history of being able to run the best motorsport events in the world & I would hate to see us lose the WRC.

cheers.

[KiwiRallyFan]

The latest news from worldrallynews.com....

"The FIA’s statutes could allow it to disregard the contract under which Western Australia hosts the Rally Australia if there is no agreement between the regional government and the Australian motorsport governing body CAMS.

The Rally Australia’s future in the World Championship has been placed in doubt following a dispute between the organisers of the rally and the Western Australia government. Although that has now been resolved, it highlighted clauses in the contract between the WA Tourism Commission and CAMS that the FIA regards as unacceptable, as they give the promoter extensive control of sporting aspects of the rally.

A revised contract has been drafted, but has not yet been approved, apparently because of a dispute over tenure. The revised contract confirms that WA can host the rally for another 65 years, but also includes a clause permitting CAMS to investigate staging the rally elsewhere after a 12-month period were it to be omitted from the World Championship.

The FIA is threatening to exclude the event from the World Championship if there is no agreement before its next World Council meeting on April 2. However, a spokesman has confirmed that rather than do without an Australian round for 65 years, the FIA believes it has the right to seek a new promoter in response to unreasonable behaviour."

[brchi17]

KiwiRallyFan,

You don't happen to read our Auto Action do you ???

I think this is word for word what I read in this weeks Auto Action.

Hopefully this publicity may force the waring parties to mend some bridges before its' too late.

cheers.

[KiwiRallyFan]

Hi Brad,

No, I hadn't seen the item in Auto Action. I saw the news on worldrallynews.com this afternoon, and thought it might have been of interest to the forum. I wasn't sure whether it was general knowledge within Australia.

I thought the comment about a 65 year contract was interesting.

[brchi17]

G'day KiwiRallyfan,

I hadn't noticed the bit about the 65 year tenuer & I was certiantly intreagued when to read it as well as you were.

Without Rally Australia the WRC would almost be a whole European affair (apart from Rally NZ of course).

cheers.