27 Aug 2009

Rally NZ confirms Auckland move

7:02 am on 27 August 2009

Rally New Zealand has confirmed the local round of the FIA World Championship, will return to Auckland next year.

Organisers have sealed an agreement with the Auckland City Council to return the event to where it was based for 28 years before moving to Waikato for three years.

The Clerk of Course Willard Martin says the service park will be on Queens Wharf and taking the route north and south will offer excellent spectator viewing for what's expected to be the fifth of a 13-round Championship.

Chairman Chris Carr says while the rally's been well run and supported in Waikato the move means much closer access for larger numbers of fans.

Carr says although under the WRC's current schedule the rally won't be back until 2012 Rally New Zealand's working hard to get it changed back to an annual event.