SPECTATORS will be able to see the world’s greatest rally drivers in action for as little as $22 when Repco Rally Australia hits the road in the New South Wales Northern Rivers on 3-6 September.
Tickets for Rally Australia, round 10 of 12 in the 2009 FIA World Rally Championship, were released officially for sale through Ticketek (www.ticketek.com.au) today – just 72 days before competition begins with a nighttime Super Special Stage on the closed streets of Murwillumbah.
Prices, including pre-purchase discounts, range from $22 for an adult to watch the Saturday or Sunday gravel special stages to $372.50 for a Family Whole Event Super Pass with daily access to all viewing points and grandstand seating for the Tweed Super Special Stage at Murwillumbah.
An individual Whole Event Super Pass, providing access to all gravel Special Stages and all nights of the Tweed Super Special Stage, is just $99.
Citroen’s five-time World Champion driver Sebastien Loeb, his teammate Dani Sordo, Ford stars Mikko Hirvonen, Jarri-Matti Latvala, Henning Solberg, Matthew Wilson and Federico Villagra, the world’s fastest Production Rally Car drivers, finalists in the Pirelli Star Driver program and a strong contingent of Australians will form a field of up to 60 entries for the rally.
The line-up of great drivers, range of viewing opportunities and wide choice of ticket options will make Repco Rally Australia the best-value international motor sports event on the Australian calendar, says event Chairman of Directors Alan Evans.
“Repco Rally Australia is a fantastic opportunity, whether you are a family or group of friends looking for spectacular entertainment or a dyed-in-the-wool rally fan,” Mr Evans said.
“The WRC drivers and teams have a massive following in many parts of the world, but will be coming to this part of Australia for the first time hungry to fight for the newest prize in world rallying.
“Rally competition is more about car control, physical and mental toughness, teamwork and tactics than outright speed. Sebastien Loeb is an absolute master of all that and we’re truly excited that one of the world’s greatest drivers in any form of motorsport will be competing at Repco Rally Australia.
“He’s won five world championships in a row and before that been a member of the French national gymnastics team and will be amazing to watch in action on the roads of the Tweed and Kyogle shires.”
Rally Australia will cover more than 340 kilometres in competition on closed public roads between Kingscliff, on the coast, and south-west of Kyogle, around 120 kms inland.
General Admission viewing in no-alcohol areas with catering facilities will be available for 12 of the gravel Special Stages, with the timetable arranged so spectators can see the action from at least two points each on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
However, the biggest crowds are expected at the Tweed Super Special Stage on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, when cars will race three at a time, pursuit-style, around two laps of a 1.2 kilometre street circuit near the centre of Murwillumbah.
Adult tickets to the Tweed Super Special Stage will cost from just $25 per night or $75 for three nights and provide entry to an unforgettable experience as the World Rally cars race around the course with brakes glowing-hot, exhausts spitting flame and headlights blazing.
While Repco Rally Australia is a new major event for New South Wales, it continues the tradition of Australia’s round of the World Rally Championship run out of Perth between 1988 and 2006. At Repco Rally Australia, spectators at the Tweed Super Special stage will occupy grandstands name after two former Rally Australia winners, Juha Kankkkunen (1989, 90, 91 and 93) and Colin McRae (1994, 97).
The course will be shared on Saturday and Sunday with the Speed on Tweed Festival, one of Australia’s most popular sprint events for classic and historic cars. Speed on Tweed tickets will be sold separately unless purchased with a Whole Event Super Pass.
While ticketed Special Stage spectating will be the highlight of Repco Rally Australia, the public also will have bonus free access to several activities where drivers and their cars can be seen at close quarters.
These include service parks at Kingscliff and Kyogle, a rally show, start festivities and free concert at Murwillumbah on Thursday night and the ceremonial finish at the Kingscliff service park on Sunday afternoon.
ENDS
Repco Rally Australia, Round 10 of the 2009 FIA World Rally Championship, is scheduled to run on 3-6 September. Closed-road competition stages will be run in the Tweed and Kyogle Shires, with a rally car service park at Kingscliff and operations headquarters at SALT Village. Drivers and teams from many countries, including Australia, will participate.
