Following Subaru’s re-entry into the Australian Rally Championship in 2016, more car manufacturers are interested in getting involved in the series.
Australian manfaucturers are interested in the new AP4 category, which has so far been a success in New Zealand. This is Glenn Inkster's Skoda. (Photo: Peter Whitten)The emergence of the AP4 regulations this year have seen several cars of this specification running in New Zealand, and it is hoped that this interest filters across to Australia.
“One thing that is attracting manufacturers is the move to AP4, and most of those manufacturers don’t have a car that they can roll off the showroom floor as a production style car,” ARC Chairman, David Waldon, said.
“That’s been most off-putting for them in the past, and they also don’t want to have to build a million dollar car, they need to be able to cost effectively produce something.
“AP4 is a fairly simplistic and well-managed category, whereby manufacturers can still run a car that looks like their shopping trolley, they can put some ‘GT’ stickers on, and is a car that they can advertise on the Monday.”
Holden recently committed to a two-car AP4 program in New Zealand, with former V8 Supercars driver, Greg Murphy, as one of the drivers, and Waldon says Aussie manufacturers are showing some interest here.
“Most of the manufacturers that I have spoken to are very, very keen to see it (the championship) well regulated.
“They don’t want the rules to chop and change, which is why we’re working so hard with New Zealand to make sure that what we put in place works for both sides of the water, so that there’s no discrepancies,” Waldon added.
A correlation between the two countries could also involve a return to the old ‘Tasman Cup’ series, which involved events in both Australia and New Zealand.
“A series of many events is probably the ultimate goal, but short term, maybe a singular event either side of the water, with an away game advantage for each one, has probably got a lot of legs in the short term,” he said.
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