Hi all
Many of you will have seen the media release published on the rally.com.au website a few weeks back announcing the State of Origin Rally Challenge. The concept - adapted from an initiative of Ed (with his blessing I might add) - provides an opportunity for the cream of dedicated State Championship crews from each State and Territory to go head to head.
The inaugural event is the 2008 Sprint Auto Parts Rally of South Australia coming up on 25 to 27 July.
Nomination forms are on their way to each State Rally Panel. Each State may nominate up to 2 'teams'. The rules are set out in the earlier media release and in the Supp Regs for the event (which are here
http://www.rallysa.com.au/competitors/documents.asp ) but the main points are:
- Each team comprises 5 crews.
- At least one crew in each team must be in a 2wd vehicle.
- Both members of each crew must have entered at least 3 State Championship rounds in 2007 held in the State they are to represent.
- The winner of the Challenge is the team which scores the most points at the end of the event.
- In order to score points each team must have a 2wd crew classed as a finisher in the event. Accordingly, State Rally Panels might choose to err on the side of caution and nominate two 2wd crews in their team(s).
The winning 'team' receives a cash prize of $3,000.00. There is also a very handsome perpetual trophy kindly donated by the SA Motorports Board.
Unlike the original concept first mooted last year, each crew must fund their own entry (rather than the State rally panel finding the $ to send them) but the entry fee for non SA team crew members is reduced. From 2010 to Challenge will rotate from State to State to be piggybacked on to ARC rounds.
The Rally of SA will have many new stages this year so there will be little home town advantage.
I gather that a number of interstate crews have contacted the Rally Office for the event enquiring how they can be part of the Challenge. I suggest that if you are interested, contact your Rally Panel rep and ask to be considered for nomination for a team.
We need 3 States to field teams to get the first Challenge off the ground so hopefully the concept will be as enthusiastically received as the original proposal.
If there is anything we South Aussies can do to help interstate crews eg. by sharing service crew or billetting, please sing out.
If anyone has any questions please don't hesitate to PM me - I am the SA Rally Championship rep for the event.
Cheers
Matt
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