The Australian Rally Championship calendar has undergone further changes, with the series now to be contested over just two rounds, in October and November.
Announcing the details this morning, Motorsport Australia confirmed that South Australia and the ACT will host the two rounds, while Tasmania’s round has had to be cancelled.
The RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship will start with the AGI Sport Adelaide Hills Rally in its original scheduled date of October 16-18, while the season opener in Canberra, the Netier National Capital Rally will move to November 27-29.
The changes mean that the original final round – never officially announced, but which would have run in Coffs Harbour – will not be held.
South Australia’s event will run as planned, while the National Capital Rally will now also be a two-day event, as opposed to the one day event initially planned for 2020.
Regretfully, Rally Tasmania organisers have elected to cancel this year’s event, with the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 forcing organisers’ hands.
Motorsport Australia Director of Motorsport and Commercial Operations, Michael Smith, said the ongoing COVID-19 travel restrictions had resulted in a reshuffle of the calendar.
“We would have loved to have opened our season in September, however, given the nature of various border closures and the rise in COVID-19 cases, it would have been highly unlikely the September event would have been possible,” Smith explained.
“We have decided that two events is a realistic target for the Championship this year, and while we would have liked more, 2020 is certainly a year like no other that nobody could have predicted.
“There is still more to be announced about these events and their make-up, and all options are on the table, including multiple ‘rounds’ of the Championship to take place at each event.
“Unfortunately for Tasmania, the event had to be cancelled for this year, but it will be back in 2021, with the full support of the Tasmanian Government, who have been very understanding of the challenges faced for this year.
“I’d like to also thank all of our event organisers and competitors for their support and flexibility – and of course also thank our sponsors, RSEA Safety and Hoosier for their understanding and ongoing support.”
The final event that was to be held in Coffs Harbour was also going to be the final round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship, but with international borders likely to be closed for many months, that rally became unworkable.
2020 RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship calendar:
| Event | Date | Location |
| AGI Sport Adelaide Hills Rally | October 16-18 | South Australia |
| Netier National Capital Rally | November 27-29 | ACT |
More rally news:
https://rallysportmag.com/nat-cap-rally-doubt-as-covid-19-worsens/
https://rallysportmag.com/windus-takes-stock-after-crash-shortens-season/
https://rallysportmag.com/injured-co-drivers-on-the-mend-in-good-spirits/
