The excitement of rally racing is powering back to Ballarat when the drivers, navigators and race crews of the CAMS Australian Rally Championships race through the streets and forests around the city.
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The Eureka Rally returned to Ballarat last year after a 46 year absence, and will again be the opening round of the ARC season on the first weekend in March.
CAMS motor sport general manager Michael Smith said everyone in the rally community was excited about starting the season in Ballarat.
The rally, featuring Australia’s best drivers and co-drivers, will start on Saturday March 3 in Sturt Street.
The event will cover more than 600km over two days including 16 special stages totalling about 215km with less than 5km of the special stages on bitumen.
Spectators will have plenty of opportunity to watch the cars tackle the challenging courses through the city, Wombat Forest, and other locations.
"Seeing and hearing rally cars out in the forest is pretty exciting,” said clerk of course Ross Runnalls.
"Until you actually see it, it is hard to believe the speed and the control Australia's best drivers display on slippery and twisty roads.
"Fans can visit dedicated and safe spectator viewing points on both days of the event where they will see the full field come through at intervals, competing for the fastest time.”
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Spectators will also be able to see the cars and drivers up close at the CBD start, and at the service park and rally office at Ballarat Airport.
“Rally is a sport where the stars really are very accessible,” Mr Runnalls said.
The Courier is the naming rights sponsor for the 2018 Eureka Rally.
“This event is one of the biggest motor sport events in regional Victoria and we are thrilled to be involved,” said The Courier editor Eugene Duffy.
"After a very successful first up event last year, we are keen to add refinements that will make The Courier Eureka Rally a fitting opener to the 2018 Australian and Victorian Rally Championships," said Ballarat Light Car Club secretary Ian Ellis
