WRC Australia to move in 2001?

Rally Australia is set to quit its traditional Perth base and head to the Victoria state capital of Melbourne next year in a snatch and grab move which echoed the one that saw Melbourne steal the Australian GP from Adelaide.

The shock news broke in Perth today (Friday) and marks the departure of yet another major sporting event from the Western Australia capital. The event has been run in WA since its inception in 1988 and contributes over AUS$20 million to the local economy.

Ron Walker, Victoria's head of major events and the man behind the snaring of the Australian GP, is refusing to confirm the switch and the rally organisers maintain that it is just speculation. However it is understood that a formal announcement will be made early next week.

"This is about the fourth time this month these rumours have gone around," said WA sports minister Norman Moore. "We've convinced people so far that it's not going to happen, but you never know..."

The Confederation of Australian Motor Sports (CAMS) insists that it is not a party to any plans to switch the rally, but admitted that any move would have to be approved by the FIA. The WA government believes it has an agreement to keep the event in WA indefinitely.

Garry Connelly, clerk of the course for the current event, was unable to comment specifically on the possible deal, but admitted: "If it goes ahead then it will be bad news for Western Australia and devastating for the officials who have worked on the event there. Obviously it would also be good news for Victoria."

The event will be based in the Dandenong mountains close to Melbourne. Just 20kms outside the city is prime rally territory which will ensure a more compact route than the current Perth-based event. The region already has a round of the Australian Championship (August 26-27), but the new Rally Australia is expected to retain its traditional dates early in November.

bad for Perth ..but great for me as im alot closer to Melbourne than perth so i might make the 3 hour trip down to melbourne to see the best ralliers in the world...but i guess Perth is not impressed at all..but basically it is so isolated way over there that moving it to a more populated region would do it the world of good

I think it is better in Perth than Victoria. A much nicer place over in the west really.

Though it would also be closer for me too.

The FIA wont allow this move next year as an event has to have been observed at least once by the FIA to be considered for inclusion in the World Rally Championship. As no event is currently ran in Melbourne at this time to allow it to be observed the people in charge at Melbourne will have to organise a very slick world class rally next year for observation before inclusion (if it is considered worthy enough) in the 2002 WRC calendar.

What about the Rally of Melbourne, which is a CAMS affiliated race by being part of the Australian Rally Championship, which means also allowed by the FIA. It could be considered to have been observed then. Anyway, as CAMS has put forward Perth for next year as being the event, then it will be there next year. As for 2002, who knows.