Rally Australia organisers led by Ben Rainsford lobbied heavily for the final place in the championship, a contrast to the Australian Grand Prix which has a contract to open each year’s Formula One World Championship.
Part of the approach was to finish the rally and then have the WRC entourage return to Sydney for the gala dinner at a harbourside location.
The proposal has obviously worked, with WRC promotional boss Oliver Ciesla congratulating the local team.
“The Coffs Harbour rally is driven by an enthusiastic organising team with a refreshing attitude to promotional opportunities, and fully deserves its place as the season’s final fixture,” he says.
The change means Rally GB, which has traditionally book-ended the season with the Monte Carlo Rally that opens the action again from January 22-24 in 2016, now becomes the final European event in the series.
Volkswagen driver Jari Matti Latvala gets some air time during this year’s Rally Australia. Source: News Corp Australia
The Chinese leg of the championship will be run from September 9-11 in the Huairou district, 70 kilometres from Beijing.
“China is the biggest car market globally and, by taking the WRC there, we offer manufacturers the opportunity to showcase their products via a championship focused on production-based vehicles. Its return was unanimously supported by our participating manufacturers,” says Ciesla.
The full 2016 WRC calendar is:
1. Monte-Carlo*, 22 – 24 January
2. Sweden, 12 – 14 February
3. Mexico, 4 – 6 March
4. Argentina, 22 – 24 April
5. Portugal, 20 – 22 May
6. Italy, 10 – 12 June
7. Poland, 1 – 3 July
8. Finland, 29 – 31 July
9. Germany, 19 – 21 August
10. China**, 9 – 11 September
11. France*, 30 September – 2 October
12. Spain, 14 – 16 October
13. Great Britain, 28 – 30 October
14. Australia, 18 – 20 November
* Inclusion remains subject to formalisation of contracts with FIA and WRC Promoter
** Inclusion remains subject to fulfilment of FIA requirements after candidate event