A radically revamped NGK Rally of Melbourne is set to conclude the 2007 NEC Australian Rally Championship in style on 9-11 November.
One of Melbourne's premier sporting events, this year's NGK Rally of Melbourne will have little in common with the 2006 event, as plans for new stages, locations, spectator points and initiatives come together.
"The NGK Rally of Melbourne has long been a benchmark event in the ARC and this year we've looked for ways to make it even better," NGK Rally of Melbourne promoter Neil Cuthbert said.
"We've made a fresh start with a number of aspects, and we're really excited about the results."
The rally will remain based in the Yarra Valley region north-east of Melbourne which will also be home to the reworked Yarra Glen service park.
Beyond that, though, the nation's best drivers in the NEC Australian Rally Championship and Victorian Rally Championship will face an all-new challenge.
Enhanced by a number of new roads, no stage in the rally retains its 2006 layout.
"When the rally gets underway, it will be a completely clean slate for the teams," Cuthbert said.
"The Mount Slide, Ben Cairn and Acheron stages have been reversed, and every other stage has a new configuration.
"In some cases, stages will use roads which haven't had rally cars on them for about 10 years, and other stages include roads which have never been used in a rally."
In another first for the event, which will commence at Melbourne's Docklands area on the evening of Friday 9 November, super special stages will be conducted as part of both heats.
Two passes of a new super special stage at Yarra Glen Showgrounds, including the vital final stage of the day, have been incorporated in Saturday's opening heat.
On Sunday, the NGK Rally of Melbourne and 2007 NEC Australian Rally Championship will end with a new super special stage at the Don Road sporting complex in Healesville.There, spectators will have fantastic view of the final stage of the year and the ceremonial finish where the event victor will be crowned.
Away from the super special stages, spectator viewing has been significantly improved, with four new spectator points to give enthusiasts a new perspective on the forest action.
"We've tried to make the rally as spectator-friendly as possible," Cuthbert said.
"There will be new viewing areas on the Blowhard, Klyondyke, Siberia and Marysville stages, which will be exciting vantage points.
"The two super specials will also make for a great viewing experience - anyone who goes to either Yarra Glen Showgrounds on Saturday or the Don Road sporting complex on Sunday will be able to see all the action."
2007 NGK Rally of Melbourne tickets go on sale on October 5 through Ticketek.
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