It’s a story that seems to grow legs about this time every year, but talk that Rally New Zealand could make a triumphant return to the World Rally Championship seems to be gathering pace.
I first got wind on the story at the Otago Rally, with WRC commentator, Colin Clark, and NZ’s own Hayden Paddon confirming that talks were, indeed, progressing.
My initial enquiries to both Rally New Zealand and Rally Australia drew the anticipated straight bat response, but RNZ chairman, PJ Johnston, has since come out and given hope to Kiwi rally fans all over the country.
“We’re hopeful of having it back in 2020,” Rally New Zealand chairman Peter Johnston said in a news report.
“The WRC promoters aren’t keen to go back to Coffs Harbour, so they are thinking that maybe there’s an opportunity for New Zealand. We’re still actively right on it at the moment.
“It would be for one year and we’ve got a lot of support from Ateed (a branch of the Auckland Council),” he said.
“The New Zealand general public are desperate to have it back, but we are looking for a sponsor and we have got Australia trying to retain the event for 2020, so we’ll see what happens.
“The Australians are fighting like crazy to retain the event there, but it would be wonderful to have it in New Zealand,” Johnston added.
“This will be the last year at Coffs Harbour and they’ll have to move it, even for 2021, they’re going to have to take it to a new venue.
“That’s easier said than done and we’re ready, we’ve got all the roads, we’ve got everything planned, we have good support, but we are after a naming rights sponsor.”
Which pretty much sums up the situation.
The stumbling block for Rally New Zealand to return to the WRC has been financially based for some years.
Nobody has questioned the rally itself, the roads used, the organisation or the venue. It’s simply been a matter of finances.
Turkey and Chile have both been given slots in the WRC calendar because their governments have had the money, which has pleased the WRC Promoter no end.
That’s not as easy for New Zealand, however. We can walk the walk, and talk the talk, but unless the numbers stack up in their favour, it’s unlikely the WRC will be interested.
Let’s hope Rally New Zealand has plenty of hot irons in the sponsorship fire.
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