News

No perceived effect for Rally New Zealand from WRC promoter changes

The 2012 FIA World Rally Championship – which includes Rally New Zealand running from 21 to 24 June – will take place as planned, albeit with a new promoter.

Last Friday the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the world governing body of motorsport, terminated its contract with North One Sport as the promoter of the World Rally Championship, stating a failure to deliver its contractual obligations. North One Sport’s owner Convers Sports Initiatives (CSI) was placed in administration in November 2011 and since then several organisations have expressed interest in purchasing North One Sport which also provides the television broadcasts.

Officials at Rally New Zealand are waiting to hear further details from the FIA and have no doubt that the championship – and the New Zealand round – will go ahead as planned.

Morrie Chandler, a vice-president of the FIA and former chairman of Rally New Zealand, says: “Obviously we’re all seeking a well-qualified promoter for the FIA World Rally Championship, but the reality is that the events making up the WRC calendar are bigger and have been around for longer than the promoter, be that North One Sport and its predecessor ISC (International Sportsworld Communicators).

“We can be sure the 2012 WRC will run as planned; the organisers of each of the 13 events have the skills and experience to deliver fantastic rallies. So the present challenge for the FIA is to continue to promote and televise the championship on a global basis and I’m sure this situation will be resolved swiftly and effectively.”

Running from 21 to 24 June, Rally New Zealand is the seventh round of the 2012 FIA World Rally Championship and the fourth round of the 2012 New Zealand Rally Championship. The high profile event – New Zealand’s premier rally sport event – is based in Auckland with the rally route taking competitors to Waikato, Whangarei and Northland. News and information is updated on the event website, www.rallynz.org.nz, on a regular basis.