New Zealand rally star, Hayden Paddon, has revealed his relief that his home country is back on the WRC calendar for the first time since 2012.
Paddon, who has just arrived in the UK in preparation for next weekend's Wales Rally GB, commented:
"The biggest news today and something we have all been holding our breaths for since 2012 is that Rally of New Zealand will be back on the calendar in 2020!
"It has been a huge effort by many people, in particular, Peter 'PJ' Johnstone and Michael Goldstein," Paddon said.
"It will be a massive event for New Zealand and we hope that we too will be part of it.
"Although WRC champion has always been my goal, winning your home WRC rally was always a very close second, so that has to be a short term aim now. September 2020 couldn't come sooner!"
Motor Sport New Zealand have also revealed their excitement at having the world's most exciting form of motorsport back on home soil.
“To see the 2020 FIA WRC calendar come out this week with New Zealand taking a September slot is evidence of Rally New Zealand’s continued professionalism and passion to again share our iconic rally roads with the world’s best rally drivers,” Wayne Christie, President of MotorSport NZ, said.
“This is a fantastic result for the hard-working team at Rally New Zealand who never stopped communicating with WRC Promoter for the opportunity for New Zealand to get back on the WRC calendar.”
Christie has heard of many volunteer marshals and officials who are keen to reprise their roles from the last incarnation of Rally New Zealand in 2012, also based in Auckland, to help deliver an event to FIA and WRC standards.
“New Zealand is fortunate to have hundreds of extremely capable motorsport volunteers and I’m sure our people will be 100% focused on delivering a world-class event to ensure that the New Zealand round of the 2020 WRC is one of the very best next season,” Christie added.
“The WRC is one of leading global motorsport championships with last year’s championship watched by over 825 million viewers across 155 markets on television, and billions of online impressions,” Rally New Zealand CEO, Michael Goldstein said, who has led the ongoing bid to get Rally New Zealand back onto the WRC calendar.
WRC Promoter managing director Oliver Ciesla is looking forward to New Zealand’s return to the global calendar.
“We are excited about returning to New Zealand which has such a storied history in rally sport.
"New Zealand is noted for its magnificent scenery, superb rally roads and such a strong rally community and we can’t wait to bring our championship to your shores, to give our teams the chance to compete here again and to bring stunning pictures of the country to WRC fans around the world,” Ciesla said.
Rally New Zealand will run from September 3 to 6, 2020.
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