Motorsport Australia would warmly welcome any New Zealanders keen to fill their rallying void and contest the shortened 2020 Australian Rally Championship.
New Zealand's national rally series was cancelled at the beginning of May, but Australian rallying has pushed forward and could prove enticing for any Kiwis keen to spread their wings.
“We’d certainly welcome any New Zealanders interested in competing in the RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship this season,” Director of Motorsport and Commercial Operations, Michael Smith said.
“A lot of water still has to flow under the bridge, including the loosening of borders and whether a proposed ‘travel bubble’ between New Zealand and Australia becomes a reality.
"Of course, this just won’t apply to drivers, co-drivers and teams, but also to their cars and equipment – any long delays in transit may make it logistically not possible for them to compete here.”
New Zealander Greg Graham contested the Australian Rally Championship in the 1990s.
Once the opening of borders takes place, any decisions surrounding support available for freight or entry fees will be made, based on any interest from New Zealand teams.
Several New Zealanders have made the trek west to contest Australian events in the past. The Rally of Canberra has seen the greatest influx of competitors, but Rally Australia has also regularly attracted crews.
In the 1990s, up-and-coming star, Greg Graham, contested an Australian Rally Championship season in a Subaru, while Emma Gilmour and Hayden Paddon are others to have entered ARC rounds.
And, or course, the most famous New Zealand rally driver, Possum Bourne, holds the record of Australian Rally Championship titles, winning seven-straight crowns from 1996 to 2002.
"We would encourage and warmly welcome any of those crews interested in competing to flag their interest with Motorsport Australia," ARC media manager, Paul Riorden, added.
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