The championship recognises the growing status of tarmac rallying, involving classic cars, and its participants in Australia.
The 2009 Australian Classic Tarmac Rally Championship will be decided over four events with each event counting for points:
Rd 1 - Rally Tasmania (14-15 February)
Rd 2 - Suncoast Rally (22-26 July)
Rd 3 - Targa West (20-23 August)
Rd 4 - Classic Adelaide (18-22 November)
The success of tarmac rallies is highly dependent on classic cars and each event in the championship is endeavouring to promote the cars and increase the level of interest among the public and the media.
Francene Connor, Group General Manager of Silverstone Events, welcomed the initiative.
“At Silverstone Events we have been presenting quality rallies for classic motor vehicles for many years and we are pleased that the Classic Adelaide and the Suncoast Rally will form part of the new championship,” said Connor.
“Raising the status of tarmac rallying in this way will encourage its growth into the future.”
The championship is also designed to boost Classic crews and increase their level of recognition, which has proved difficult in the past with the number of modern cars competing in tarmac rallying.
“The increased focus on classic cars will be welcomed by crews and spectators alike - there’s no doubt that the classics are the crowd favourites,” said Ross Tapper, Clerk of the Course of both Rally Tasmania and Targa West.
Event organisers are considering a suitable award for the Championship winners and the champions will be recognised alongside their motor sport peers at an appropriate CAMS function.
“CAMS, in conjunction with the organisers, has standardised the regulations for tarmac rallies and we now feel that we have progressed to the point where a Championship can now be introduced,” said CAMS Tarmac Rally Working Group Chairman Ben Rainsford.
“We are very pleased by this step and look forward to the rally’s success.”
Sporting Regulations for the Championship - which will include conditions for entry, point scores and other relevant matters for the championship - are in the process of being developed and will be released shortly.
To be eligible, cars will need to comply with the CAMS Classic Tarmac Rally Technical Regulations.
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