Rally Calder's new course countdown

As the opening round of the 2012 Bosch Australian Rally Championship is staged within the sprawling Calder Park complex on the outskirts of Melbourne, the inaugural Rally Calder will take the top class of Australian rallying into an environment that will test the most skilled drivers in Australian motor sport.

"I think we've come up with a course unlike anything rallying in this country, or any country for that matter, has ever seen," said Bosch ARC CEO Scott Pedder. "To say we're excited to see how it tests the best rally drivers in Australia would be an understatement!"

From tarmac to gravel, from industrial to open wasteland, the setting of Rally Calder will take drivers and spectators away from the usual forestry domains of special stage rallying and challenge them in ways not witnessed before.

"It's unique, that's about the best way to describe it," Pedder continued. "These aren't just short, sharp blasts through a car park like we've seen with Super Special Stages before. Drivers are going to be thrown onto multiple surfaces, from gravel one minute to tarmac the next, and sometimes both at once."

"For a compact venue we've been able to design stages of serious length. The beauty for drivers and teams is they'll all be in the same area with very little to no transportation."

"And for spectators the possibilities will be endless, there will be more value for money than any motor sport event in Australia!" exclaimed Pedder.

Spectators will be rewarded with action away from the outright stars of the Bosch ARC with the first ever Car Club Challenge, featuring drag, track and gymkhana disciplines.

As well as the introduction of the SUV category to the Bosch ARC at Rally Calder the event will also witness the first Round of the inaugural Side by Side Challenge and the Australian Tarmac Rally Championship.

"It will literally be a motor sport free-for-all for spectators!" exclaimed Scott. "We wanted to design an event that had non-stop action for spectators from start to finish."

The three day event will begin with a ceremonial start in the nearby Caroline Springs Town Centre, the spectacular new suburb development mere moments from Calder Park, the back drop as spectators get up close and personal with the cars, drivers and teams.

"To have just crowned a brand new Australian Rally Champion but to now be 100 days and counting to the start of a new season is exciting and terrifying all at the same time.

"Having said that though we're incredibly energized for the challenges ahead and just can't wait to reveal more as the event gets even closer," Pedder added.

For further details stay tuned to rally.com.au for the latest competitors and spectator information as it is released.