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'State of Origin Battle' included in Rally South Australia |
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Wednesday, 23 April 2008 |
The Australian Rally Commission (ARCom)
last night endorsed an additional competition to be included at round four of
the Australian Rally Championship, Rally South Australia this year.
The
‘State of Origin Rally Challenge’ will involve teams drawn from a minimum of
three states, competing for a cash prize of $3,000.
Rally South Australia Director and Clerk of Course Ivar Stanelis said he is
looking forward to the injection of the new competition and said it will be a
boost for the rally which is already regarded as one of the best on the ARC
calendar.
“The new competition is a great thing for the Championship,
and of course Rally SA,” said Stanelis.
“Adding another strand of
competition to the ARC has the potential to boost entry numbers and provides an
even greater opportunity for teams at all levels of rallying to get involved in
a national Championship round,” he continued.
“Best of all the ‘State of
Origin Challenge’ will allow competitors who may not normally be in the position
to challenge for an outright win on their own, compete alongside other teams
from their home state to win a nationally recognised award.”
Each team
must comprise of at least three crews - up to a maximum of five – however, each
state may field more than one team.
While invitations will be issued by
ARCom to each State Rally Panel to nominate a team to represent their
State/Territory, competitors are encourage to form their own teams and approach
their local state panel for ‘State of Origin’ endorsement.
To be
eligible, teams must consist of at least one 2WD vehicle, and each crew must be
comprised of a driver and co-driver who competed in at least three State Rally
Championship (or highest level series) rounds in 2007/8 in the State which they
have been nominated to represent.
ARCom Chairman Colin Trinder said the
requirement of a 2WD entry was introduced to ensure the ‘State of Origin
Challenge’ would attract participants from all levels of rallying.
“The
objective of the ‘State of Origin Challenge’ is to spread the representation
across all ranks of rallying, from grass roots to those competitors already
tackling the ARC,” said Trinder.
“The state versus state challenge will
engender interest and hopefully increase the number of state level participants
involved in Rally SA.”
For further information on the competition or
Rally South Australia, please contact the Rally SA office on (08) 8212 2800.
“Come to South Australia and be part of the competition to determine
once and for all who the best rally state in Australia is,” said Stanelis.
Rally South Australia is being held in the Barossa valley and Adelaide
Hills regions, from the 25 – 27th of July.
Note: At least 3 States must
cause a team to be entered for the State of Origin Rally Challenge to be
constituted.
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