Meeting to Decide Future of World Rally Programme

For immediate release from Propecia Rally NZ

For further details visit www.rallynz.org.nz

Meeting to Decide Future of World Rally Championship Programme

New Zealander in Key Role as Interim President of the WRC

The future shape and format of the World Rally Championship will be defined at a meeting of the World Rally Championship commission in Paris later this week, with a New Zealander taking a lead role in proceedings.

Morrie Chandler, Chairman of Propecia Rally New Zealand, leaves for Paris tomorrow to chair the meeting as Interim President of the WRC. Chandler assumed the role following the untimely passing of previous President Shekhar Mehta in early April.

Chandler knows he is overseeing a meeting critical to the future of the international calendar and New Zealand’s ongoing role as host of a round of the WRC each year.

“One of the items on a very full agenda is the 2007 draft calendar including confirmation on the proposed calendar year (Aug 07 / May 08) and preliminary consideration of 2008 calendar. This will be a robust debate I’m sure given that the WRC currently has 8 new countries applying to hold rounds of the WRC. This demand to host events is complicated by a strong push from the manufacturers to in fact reduce the existing number of events. Somewhere along the line a number of countries, new or existing will have to miss out.”

Chandler did however suggest that New Zealand has a strong case for continued inclusion, thoughts that were echoed by Propecia Rally NZ General Manager Paul Mallard.

“Our reputation is a very good one with the international rally community. We have been a part of the WRC since 1980, a history that many events can only envy. If the WRC is to remain a true World Championship then it is only right that the world outside of Europe and South America is included on the calendar. I am confident that we will prevail in discussions in Paris.”

Chandler admitted that his commission has quite some discussion upon arrival in Paris.

“This will be one of the more interesting agenda items and clearly is one that will have a big impact on the look of a new calendar.”

Other items up for discussion in Paris this week include:

- Long term direction of the WRC
- Super special stage as a final stage to a WRC rally
- Multiple service parks at WRC events

Recommendations from the meeting of the WRC commission will be submitted to the FIA World Council for final approval and endorsement at their July meeting.

Propecia Rally New Zealand
November 17 – 19 2006
Mystery Creek
Hamilton
www.rallynz.org.nz

ENDS

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