More than 160 rally participants and organisers have been given details of the exciting developments planned for this year's Australian Rally Championship during a Webinar across the country.
Exciting details including the announcement of a new naming rights sponsor for the 2011 ARC and plans for new vehicle and aspirational classes for young developing drivers were revealed to the participants by the ARC's recently appointed CEO, Scott Pedder.
The Webinar was part of the new philosophy of the country's premier rally series to inform and educate participants and fans to encourage stronger involvement and enthusiasm for the sport.
The catchcry for the ARC in 2011 is 'Unrestricted' and the Webinar participants  were told of the basic strategy for the Championship with the aim of increasing the exposure and commercial appeal of the series, providing a financially and operationally sustainable championship for all parties and to ensure an aspirational, rewarding and cost effective championship for current and potential competitors.
Scott Pedder said the inaugural ARC Webinar was an unequivocal success and was well received by all participants and stakeholders.
"We revealed our management team, the plans and structure of our classes and vehicle eligibility as well as other details such as the exciting new Rallyschool.com.au Junior Australian Rally Challenge and our new control pump fuel supplier BP," said Scott Pedder.
"The new ARC Car class was greeted with a great deal of enthusiasm and this is going to be an exciting part of our Unrestricted philosophy," he added.
"The ARC Car class will be open for outright driver championship awards, allowing competitors to run without turbo restrictors and with exhaust manifold freedoms to existing PRC cars using control 98 octane pump fuel creating the world's most exciting domestic rally championship with outright cars that sound great competing at unrestricted speed," he said.
"All of the concepts were excitedly received by participants who can see that it is time to re package the ARC to cater to a wider array of participants, sponsors and fans," he said.
"They were particularly impressed by our new TV package with Ten/One HD and with the continuation of our control tyre agreement with Kumho which has already enabled participants to reduce costs and even the playing field," Scott added.
Details of the five rounds in this year's ARC were revealed including the exciting prospect of having two of the rallies with International status at Rally Queensland, Australia's round of the Asia Pacific Championship and also the World Championship Rally Australia at Coffs Harbour in NSW.
"We have put in place strategies that will enable the new ARC Car category vehicles to be either easily converted back to International specification or to run in a parallel event as well as allowing the popular and spectacular Classic Cars to play a key role at ARC events and these ideas were warmly embraced by those involved in the Webinar," said Scott Pedder.
"The Webinar allowed us to show the rally fraternity that we plan to ensure that ARCÂ Â will be the world's fastest domestic rally championship with increased excitement levels, reduced costs and a broader range of classes from Classics, to two wheel drive or four wheel drive turbos appealing to a broader range of participants and fans," he added.
More details of the ARC and its plans for 2011 and beyond will be revealed in coming weeks leading up to the Championship official launch in Melbourne on April 6th.
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