With support from the South Australian Tourism Commission, the Classic Adelaide Rally will make a return to the rally calendar this October.
Not since 2009 has Adelaide experienced the sights and sounds of the Classic Adelaide Rally. The event was recognised globally as a world class Tarmac Rally specifically for Classic Vehicles and was run between 1995 and 2009 in the Adelaide Hills, Barossa and Fleurieu Peninsula in late Spring.
The Sporting Car Club of South Australia which is itself is a South Australian Institution established in 1934, will be resurrecting the Rally event alongside its highly successful Adelaide Motorsport Festival that was run as a one day event in April 2014 in Victoria Park.
With the support of the State Government through the South Australian Tourism Commission and Shannons Insurance as a naming rights sponsor, the return of the rally will consist of two days of competition on Friday and Saturday October 16 and 17, and has a long term vision of expanding the event further in the future.
An entry list exceeding 150 cars will pair with another 240 cars expected to enter the expanded Adelaide Motorsport Festival to make this coming together of the two events possibly the largest Classic Themed Motorsport event in the Southern Hemisphere.
The Rally promises to be true and authentic to the original Classic Adelaide model with only pre 1986 manufactured vehicles being eligible for full rally competition. Touring and tour-ism will also feature prominently, with a significant focus on rare and collectible cars and drivers of international note being part of a new long term plan for the second coming of this hallmark event.
Locals who remember the tens of thousands of people in Gouger Street for the traditional Friday night street party will be happy to hear that plans are already underway to bring back that component of the event, along with having the Historic Formula 1 cars from the Adelaide Motorsport Festival on display.
Tim Possingham who is the event Public Relations Manager says: “This is great news for South Australia. The Classic Adelaide Rally is recognised in motorsport circles the world over and it is fantastic news that The Sporting Car Club of S.A and State Government can bring this event back to the fore and spruik visitation to our vibrant state.
“We have a long term vision for this event that will see its profile and resultant tourism increase year on year going forward.”
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