Ballarat is poised to finally end a long hiatus from the Australian Rally Championship.
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An additional race for the 2017 competition has been planned, with the opening round of the series booked for the region between March 17-19.
The ARC last visited Ballarat in 1978 and was set to return this year before a series of calendar changes – stemming from Australia hosting a leg of the world championship – saw the event shifted to be part of the 2017 program.
The Eureka Rally, as it is to be known, will be the first of six races next year and precede the Quit Forest Rally in Western Australia during April.
Ballarat Light Car Club will be part of the organising committee for the opening round.
“With the return of the ARC to Ballarat, (it) is a testament to the club’s ability to manage national events,” BLCC president Arron Secombe said.
“It’s exciting times for the Ballarat Light Car Club with the ARC returning to the region. It’s also great for the Ballarat region as we can showcase what Ballarat has to offer as a city and sports country capital.”
With Victoria currently missing from the five-round series, ARC event organiser Katie Philps said it was important for the championship to have a presence back in the “home of rally in the country”.
”Ballarat ticks all the boxes for us,” Philps told The Courier.
Ballarat ticks all the boxes for us.
- ARC event organiser Katie Philps
Philps said a “rally hub” is planned for Victoria Park in Ballarat during the ARC visit, with a ceremonial start likely to take place in Bridge Mall on the Friday before the weekend’s races.
Saturday and Sunday heats will be conducted throughout about 250km of tracks across the City of Ballarat, Golden Plains and Moorabool shires.
She said the ARC is currently planned for a three-year stint in the Ballarat region.