The WRC Promoter has all but guaranteed Australia's return to the World Rally Championship in 2021, just months after it was axed from the 2020 series.
Outgoing CEO, Oliver Ciesla, said that the WRC would likely return to "an attractive location in Australia", when questioned about the 2021 calendar.
Australia's re-entry in to the series would come at the expense of New Zealand, which was only reinstated to the WRC for one year.
The 2021 calendar will be published in June, according to FIA boss Jean Todt, three months earlier than the delayed 2020 calendar was released.
Australia's "attractive location" is thought to be Bathurst, but that is still dependent on the New South Wales government, and if their funding for the event is, a: still available, and b: able to be used for another major event in Bathurst.
Part of the sponsorship agreement for Rally Australia was that the event be held in Coffs Harbour, a region that the government was keen to further promote.
However, the WRC Promoter has long been anti-Coffs Harbour, stating that the region doesn't have the population base to support a WRC round.
“We already agreed for 2021 that Spain is going to return. We expect and propose we would keep a slot for the French – providing they offer an attractive event. They are working on different scenarios and we are curious to see what’s coming," Ciesla said.
“Our intention would be to also return to an attractive location in Australia and, of course, Chile’s return is pending the difficult situation in the country. Most of the traditional events remain there.”
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