Classic rally car nats at ARC

A proposal to create the Australian Classic Rally Championship is currently being considered and is likely to be approved and announced in the coming months in time for the opening round of the 2012 Bosch ARC at Calder Park in March.

The Classics have run at the front of the field at rounds of the Bosch Australian Rally Championship this year with up to 15 cars thrilling the crowds with their tail out style and the air of nostalgia.

The proposed Australian Classic Rally Championship will be staged in conjunction with the Bosch ARC in 2012 providing another great element to the series alongside the outright two wheel drive and four wheel drive Rally Championships and the new Australian SUV Rally Championship.

Immaculate Ford Escort RS1800s, Datsun Stanzas, Porsche 911s, Falcon GTs and V8 Commodores have added another fascinating element to the Bosch ARC and while the Australian Classic Rally Association (ACRA) will continue to administer the rules as the overall category manager the promotion and marketing of the category will now be handled by the Australian Rally Championship administration as the commercial promoter.

According to Scott Pedder, CEO of the Bosch ARC, the Classic rally cars are an important element in the overall ARC picture and provide added fun and entertainment for the fans while embracing the heritage of our sport.

"The Classic Rally Cars give the opportunity for some of our great champions of the past to continue in a competitive form of the sport in cars that are fun and challenging to drive," said Scott.

"Some of our great drivers such as five times champion Ross Dunkerton who is already campaigning an Escort RS1800, twice champ Barry Lowe who drives aV8 Commodore and four times champion Neal Bates who is building a TTE replica twin cam Celica will feature prominently in the proposed Australian Classic Rally Championship," he said.

"The great thing is that the other drivers in the Classic category such as Stewart Reid, Jeff David and Dave Thompson will now hopefully be able to compete with and against their heroes and fight for the inaugural Australian Classic Rally Championship.

"Assuming control for the promotion of the Classic Rally Cars category will allow us to commit the resources necessary to take the heritage formula to the next level expanding awareness as well as sponsorship and marketing opportunities," said Pedder.

"In Europe the classic rally movement is massive just as other nostalgia categories such as the Touring Car Masters are in circuit racing here in Australia and while it is not a replacement or rival for the modern cars in the outright Bosch ARC it is another element that adds to the sport's revenue and entertainment value," he added.

Further plans and announcements regarding the inaugural Australian Classic Rally Championship will be made over the next few months.