Organisers prepare for Rally Australia

The world’s fastest rally drivers and their cars have arrived in Coffs Harbour as organisers race to complete final preparations for Coates Hire Rally Australia, which starts on Thursday (11th September).

With drivers in the FIA World Rally Championship caught arriving in northern NSW, crew members have been preparing the Hi-Tec Oils Service Park at C.ex Coffs International Stadium, where teams will be based through to the finish next Sunday afternoon.

Workshops, service bays, offices, reconnaissance cars, spare parts and even dining rooms were unpacked from their international shipping containers into an instant village ready to welcome thousands of fans.

Event organisers worked on the adjacent Hyundai Super Special Stage and 13 rural Special Stage spectator points.

Event Manager David Catchpole stated “by Thursday we’ll be ready to stage another spectacular Coates Hire Rally Australia.

“Construction of the service park super special stage, event headquarters at Opal Cove Resort, media centre, special stage rally villages and other facilities is on schedule.

“After the recent heavy rain, the ground has dried out well and the Coffs Coast countryside and forests are looking lush and green. It will be a beautiful environment in which to enjoy a rally.

“The final touch is the arrival of the drivers. All the great names are here, including Jari-Matti Latvala, Thierry Neuville, Mads Ostberg and Australia’s Chris Atkinson, and I believe the course we have designed will set them a great competitive challenge which spectators will find enthralling.”

WRC drivers will attend some promotional activities today before undertaking day-long course reconnaissance on tomorrow and Wednesday.

They will drive their cars for the first time on Thursday morning at a non-competitive shakedown session before the afternoon’s Coates Hire Rally Show and start ceremonies. WRC drivers with their cars will attend the rally show from 4pm to meet fans and sign autographs.

The first of 20 Special Stages covering 313 kilometres over three days starts at 9.18 am on Friday. The rally will come to town on Friday and Saturday nights for the spectacular Hyundai Super Special Stage incorporating the ARMOR ALL Shootout, adjacent to the Hi-Tec Oils Service Park.

Apart from the rally cars, entertainment highlights at the service park and super special stage will include an aerobatics show by the Red Bull stunt plane, an off road racing demonstration, Meet-the-Crews sessions on Friday and Saturday evenings, driver autographs at the team service bays, giant screens showing live stage coverage on Saturday and Sunday, souvenir sales and food and drink.

Taking place from 11th to 14th September, Coates Hire Rally Australia will be the 23rd Rally Australia and the country’s 22nd WRC event (the first event in 1988 was a round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship). With support from the New South Wales Government, the event moved to the Coffs Coast region in 2011 and immediately earned widespread community support. The rally features a compact format on gravel forestry and shire roads north, south and west of the Coffs Harbour headquarters, making it easy for spectators and competitors to reach the competitive stages. The stages provide a true challenge for the WRC drivers against a magnificent backdrop of subtropical coastal and hinterland scenery.

Full event details including spectator maps and directions, Rally Village Michelin Shuttle bus times and entry lists are available at www.rallyaustralia.com.au.

Image shows fans welcoming World Rally Drivers to the Coffs Coast (Jeremy Rogers pic)

28th October 2013 - RALLY AUSTRALIA ACHIEVES FIA ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE