The agreements will ensure the continuation of the NGK Rally of Melbourne and Toyota Kluger Rally SA, which have traditionally drawn some of the biggest crowds of the national championship.
‘The agreements that have been reached with the event promoters will ensure the continued growth of this dynamic national championship,” Rallycorp Chairman Steve Ashton said.
“Both Victoria and South Australia have a long history of supporting Australian rallying at all levels, and have a significant and passionate motor sport enthusiast base.”
The new agreements follow the recent announcement of the multi-year deal securing the future of Rally of Canberra as an NEC Australian Rally Championship round.
The deal, which was announced in May, will see highly respected event organiser Mike Bell - who has performed the senior sporting organiser role for the rally over many years - take over the promotion of the rally from 2008.
These multi-year deals with event promoters will enable Rallycorp to seek new corporate sponsors with greater confidence, with the futures of individual events guaranteed
“Multi-year contracts with events allow Rallycorp to more actively seek long term commercial agreements,” Ashton said. “This, in turn, provides Rallycorp with greater scope to guarantee support for event promoters through the provision of essential services and marketing and development support.”
The new event agreements follow the signing of a multi-year deal with Channel Ten at the beginning of 2007 to continue the coverage and support of the NEC ARC.
The Super 2000 cars run by Toyota Racing Development and Pirtek Rally Team Ford, as well as the performances of leading privateers such as Dean Herridge and 18 year-old female driver, Molly Taylor, continue to increase the profile of the championship, with spectator numbers on the rise and media interest throughout Australia increasing.
The second half of the NEC Australian Rally Championship season will start in the Barossa Valley in South Australia for the Toyota Kluger Rally SA, held from August 10-12.
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