If there was ever a time to not be standing still, it’s in 2021 when everything has changed and nothing is what it seems.
Thankfully, Motor Sport New Zealand are doing anything but, with a group of dedicated experts who are planning for rallying’s future in the country.
With a team headed by Roger Oakley, including Hayden Paddon and Blair Bartels, the Rally Futures Working Group is mapping out a plan for the sport encompassing the next 10 years.
Other members of the working group are Rocky Hudson, Tony McConachy and Elton Goonan.
The plan will cover everything from competition through to organisation, and is a brilliant initiative from MSNZ.
“Rallying in NZ is healthy in many ways at present, but not in all, with obvious challenges that need to be proactively faced up to,” MSNZ CEO, Elton Goonan, said.
“The National Championship has been going very well, spearheaded by the AP4 class which has been around some years now, but renewal of the top cars needs encouragement.”
He says there’s also the need to put work into the two-wheel drive classes in order for them to continue to grow as well.
A key focus of the group will be try and increase the number of club and regional rallies in the North Island, so a ‘Rally Support Network’ has been formed that will give smaller clubs access to experienced event organisers.
This will also help clubs to understand the steps needed to conduct rallies, while the aforementioned event organisers will also be there to help at events to further increase that knowledge base.
The Rally Futures Working Group has also identified four key areas that they will target:
1. Developing the sport – what is needed to move the sport of rallying from present day to the vision of 10-years’ time?
2. What does the top-end of the sport look like – how do we ensure that the pinnacle of NZ rallying is still attractive to competitors, but also sponsors, ensuring they support the NZRC?
3. Behind the scenes – what could be addressed to develop the sport with regard to governance, management, event organization and technology?
4. Promotion – To achieve many of the strategic goals, and grow the sport, a wider promotion strategy is needed that coordinate the efforts of individuals, events and organisations, and is aligned with the overall Rally Futures strategy.
All going well, when 2022 rolls around, things will be a little more back to normal, and the group’s hard work will start to be put into effect.
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