The East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship is set to expand to six rounds in 2016 with the re-addition of a Victorian round based out of Ballarat.
 

Ballarat is Australia’s most populous inland city, made famous during the gold rush era, and at just over one hundred kilometres from Melbourne hosts a diverse range of local events and attractions.
 
Justin Dowel competes in Ballarat's Begonia Rally in 2012.The addition of the event in 2016 will boost both the local tourism to the Ballarat region as well as to the diversity of events in the East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship.
 
“It’s exciting to announce a return to Victoria in 2016,” said Australian Rally Championship Chairman Ben Rainsford. “The sport has such a rich history in the State, and it is terrific news to be able to take the crews, teams, spectators and media to a breathtaking area like Ballarat next year.”
 
The event has a preliminary date of 11th-13th November and will be the sixth and final round of the season. A spectacular ceremonial start is already planned for the Bridge Mall in the centre of Ballarat, and a proposed Super Special Stage in nearby Victoria Park.
 
Event Manager Katie Philps, long time secretary of the Australian Rally Championship, said it was a great privilege to bring the sport to Ballarat and thanked the local community and Ballarat Regional Tourism for their support.
 
“The welcome we have received already by the local community and the Ballarat City Council has been beyond amazing. They are thrilled to have the ARC coming to town, even this far out from our first event. We have big plans that we’re excited to announce them all over the next 18 months,” Philps said.
 
“From an event point of view we want to put on an exciting, dynamic, team-friendly event, and we’re hopeful that the chance to drive on new roads will entice competitors new and old to come to experience everything Ballarat has to offer,” continued Philps.
 
The event will receive significant support from the Ballarat Light Car Club, who will be staging a round of the Victorian Rally Championship with the Begonia Rally later this year.
 
The 2016 event will tap into significant local support and knowledge from the Car Club’s members, as well as key senior officials from the Victorian rally scene, including Ross Runnalls who has been announced as the Clerk of Course for 2016.
 
“Amongst the team we’ve already assembled we have all the credentials to put on a great event. It’s a shame there won’t be a Victorian round of the ARC this season, but we’re all looking forward to a great event in 2016,” explained Runnalls, who has was recently announced as an 2015 inductee into the Australian Rally Hall of Fame.
 
Rallying in the Ballarat region has a rich history in the sport and has even featured as two previous rounds of the Australian Rally Championship, running in 1976 and again in 1978 when it was sponsored by French lighting manufacturer Marchal.
 
Aaron Secombe, President of Ballarat Light Car Club, said: “Not only are we excited to stage the Begonia Rally as a round of the VRC later this year, but now our club and members are excited to welcome the Australian Rally Championship in 2016.”
 
“The Ballarat area has some amazing roads and I’m personally looking forward to sharing them with the best drivers from around Australia in 2016!” he added.
 
With the past four Australian Rally Champion’s hailing from the State of Victoria (Simon Evans, Justin Dowel, Eli Evans and Scott Pedder), Chairman of the Victorian Rally Panel David Lambie said he was thrilled with the news.
 
“I think it goes without saying that the Australian Championship needs a Victorian round. I think the move to Central Victoria for our local round is a very positive move, and the hard work of the Ballarat Car Club is a testament to their rally heritage,” Lambie said.
 
“I’d like to offer specific praise to the efforts of Katie Philps though – her energy, enthusiasm and determination to get this event up and running deserves special recognition. I hope all of the Victorian rally community get behind her and this event to make it a massive success in 2016 and beyond.”

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