Technically the Gold Coast and environs does fall within the stated 50 kilometre radius of Brisbane, and it would make sense to combine the spectacle of the WRC with the Indy festival - if the dates were aligned.
The very active Gold Coast City Council would no doubt jump on such an opportunity to add to the economic and tourist growth of the region.
It also should not be ignored that Australia's current Subaru works driver Chris Atkinson, is a Gold Coast boy.
But does the Gold Coast and northern NSW region have enough good quality roads to facilitate a WRC event?
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Other rumours have also suggested that it will be a tarmac event! The Gold Coast hinterland is renowned for its twisting and climbing roads in places, and a well-structured event may see enough distance to meet the FIA's rally requirements.
Any planning for the event will need to consider the Queensland Police Service's past reluctance to closing public roads, but with full government support, this would not be insurmountable.
It is now understood that the FIA will conduct an inspection of the proposed stages in November 2007.
CAMS president, Colin Osborne, was recently quoted as saying that the Rally Australia will not need to hold a trial event in 2007, as the rally is simply relocating – as has been the case with other WRC events, such as this year’s Rally of New Zealand, which has moved from an Auckland base to Hamilton, further south.
But given that the event will be run by new promoters, this seems to be a strange decision.
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In any case, the time is fast approaching when some concrete plans need to be revealed.
As an aside, some of the more experienced rally organisers from the Brisbane Sporting Car Club, including Rally Queensland Clerk of Course, Errol Bailey, attended last month's Rally Australia, with a view to learning from the WA team about how their event is run.
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