Rally goes for own T20 format

A shorter and sharper series will re-shape the Australian Rally Championship, and the future of forest racing Down Under in 2019.

The first one-day events in the history of the title, and a revised championship running order that begins for the first time in Western Australia before an east-coast sweep, are part of a new-look ARC program.

The Netier National Capital Rally and the new Eureka Rush in Victoria become headliners as one-day contests and the championship even has a new logo and a renewed push into social media coverage.

The new look Australian Rally Championship (ARC) has already drawn a stronger top-end for the Forest Rally that opens the series on April 5. The field will be lead by the factory Toyota and Subaru teams but also includes a growing number of adventurous privateers led by former champion, Justin Dowell.

“We’d be the first to admit that the ARC needed a revamp [But ] it’s an evolution, rather than an revolution,” the general manager of motorsport at the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS), Mike Smith, told carsales.

“We’re not throwing everything out. We’ve keeping the bits that have been working well. It’s more convenient for competitors but also more consumable.”

Neal Bates, a triple Australian rally champion who fields a pair of factory-back Toyota Yaris prototypes for his sons Harry and Lewis against a revitalised Subaru attack with Molly Taylor, is a strong supporter of the championship changes.

“It all makes sense. The change is well and truly due,” Bates said.

“If you have a look, we’re one of the few national championships in the world that still has two-day events. Even the world championship is looking at shorter events.

“If you look at the costs, particularly with travel and people away from work, it makes sense. It’s a huge positive and we’re already seeing more competitors entered for Perth,” Bates stated.

CAMS says it is spending more on promotion of the series following a strategic review of the series in 2018.

“We’ve been working in the background for 18 months to get these things right,” says Smith.

“We’re really excited about it. And it’s been a fairly collaborative process. We’ve been trying to get a clear picture of what needs to happen and we’ve really tried to bring people along with us.

“Ultimately, what we're trying to deliver is a championship that is attractive for people to compete in and sustainable for organisers and our partners.”

Smith says CAMS is particularly happy about the shorter events in Canberra and Victoria, which will run on Saturdays so everyone involved can travel home on Sundays.

“We’ve now got two one-day events, which we’re calling ARC Rush events. Hopefully the condensed events will bring more excitement,” says Smith.

“The sprint format is new. We’re looking at potentially running three stages, twice.”

Smith also says the series is looking stronger with Toyota and Subaru renewing their long-term battle at a higher intensity, with Eli Evans also potentially fielding his MINI prototype to defend the championship he won with a Skoda in 2018.

“We’re hoping for more excitement. And more brands and competitors,” Smith says.