28 Apr 2010

Rugby World Cup forces rally organisers to turn down WRC for 2011

5:39 pm on 28 April 2010

Rally New Zealand is blaming New Zealand's hosting of the rugby world cup, for having to turn down being part of the world championship next year.

Rally New Zealand chairman Chris Carr says the New Zealand event has been allocated a date for next year but it falls in the middle of the world cup and they have no desire to run a rally during that period.

He says they considered dates on either side of the World Cup but struck issues with access to key venues such as Auckland's Queens Wharf.

This year's rally, which is part of the world championship, begins a week tomorrow.