The chances of Rally New Zealand returning to the 2018 World Rally Championship appear to have taken a huge nose dive.
Carlos Sainz, Ford Focus RS WRC, Rally NZ 2006.
Reports in the UK suggest that the WRC will add rounds in Turkey and Croatia, leaving New Zealand out in the cold.
WRC Promoter will present its 2018 calendar to the WRC Commission meeting in Germany later this month.
It is at that meeting that Rally Poland's fate is expected to be decided. The event is almost certain to be dropped next year after spectator control problems last month.
New Zealand’s WRC star, Hayden Paddon, put out a last-minute plea for his local event in a Facebook post.
“RALLY FANS - WE NEED YOU,” Paddon said.
“Amid the latest rumours, we need one final push before next week’s WRC meeting about what we all want - RALLY NEW ZEALAND. Please share this as much as possible so we can create a powerful last ditch effort that they can not ignore. I hate to say it - but it's now or never! #BringBackRallyNZ #nevergiveup”
Paddon's last ditch effort has already been shared over 2,200 times on his Facebook page.
New Zealand last hosted a round of the WRC in 2012. A Rally New Zealand trial event will be held in the North Island in November.
- Peter Whitten
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