Leading South Coast based company AMH Automotive Group has signed on as the naming rights sponsor of the legendary Rally of the Bay in a long-term agreement that will see it backing the rally until 2020.
2015 Rally of the Bay winner, Nathan Quinn, will hopefully be back to defend his crown in the South Coast forests.The event will be known as the AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay for the next five years giving the event a certain and prosperous future building on almost four decades of heritage on the NSW South Coast.
This year's AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay will be staged on Saturday 13th August in the forests and shire roads around the picturesque seaside centre and will be round four of the 2016 NSW Rally Championship.
The Batemans Bay rally can trace its origins back more than 40 years and was voted the best round of the 2015 NSW Rally Championship.
President of North Shore Sporting Car Club, Brett Middleton said the club welcomes the partnership with the AMH Auto Group and looks forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the company.
"AMH Automotive Group has been a part of the Rally of the Bay for the past five years providing support and a venue for event scrutineering but thanks to the support of Dealer Principal, Jade Cowan this has been taken to a new level and we are very happy to have such a strong and innovative company as our naming rights partner," said Brett Middleton.
"AMH Auto Group is making a substantial and long term financial commitment to the event and along with the support we receive from the people of Batemans Bay and the business community as well as the Eurobodalla Shire Council we can now guarantee the AMH Auto Group Rally of the Bay will be based there for many years to come," he said.
Dealer Principal of the AMH Automotive Group, Jade Cowan said the company was proud to make a commitment to the Rally of the Bay because it is an iconic event and is a popular annual festival of motor sport on the South Coast.
"We are very proud to partner with North Shore Sporting Car Club in helping to cement the Rally of the Bay as a major sporting attraction in the region for the next five years he added.
The AMH Auto Group is a family owned and operated business with more than 60 years history in the motor industry.
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AMH Group operates four new car dealerships including AMH Honda in Batemans Bay, Alan May Holden in Ulladulla and AMH Kia and Nissan in Moruya as well as operating a Kumho tyre dealership in Moruya.
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The 2016 AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay will not only be the fourth round of the NSW Rally Championship, it will also be a round of the NSW Pacenote Rally Series and the ACT Regional Rally Series.
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In an exciting move, organisers are welcoming eligible Off-Road (Production 4WD) and Cross Country (A0, A1 or A2) vehicles to run in a separate category, as well as hosting a category for the increasingly popular Classic Rally Cars bringing some nostalgic excitement to the legendary Batemans Bay forestry roads while an Introductory event will allow absolute novices to try one of the best rallies in the country.
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AMH Auto Group Rally of the Bay, clerk of course Ian Bigg has also announced that this year's event will use the innovative Swedish Jemba Notes pace noting system allowing competitors to recce the course and run on pace notes in a more time efficient and safe way.
As well the Rallysafe safety monitoring system is compulsory for all competitors ensuring positive monitoring of the entire field and rapid response to any incidents or crashes.
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The AMH Automotive Group Rally of the Bay is scheduled to be flagged away in Clyde Street Batemans Bay at midday on Saturday 13 August ahead of eight competitive stages covering 144 km for the main event along with two shorter versions covering 109km (multi-club Bay Meander) and 69 km (Introductory).
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Rally Headquarters will again be located at the Bay Waters Resort with the event service park located in the Mackay Park precinct in the centre of Batemans Bay.
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Organisers are offering interstate competitors with a $100 fuel rebate to assist in getting to the Bay while further announcements will be made in coming weeks regarding special incentives prize money for stage wins and class prizes including for the Classic Rally Cars.