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OPENING 2021 ARC ROUNDS ANNOUNCED

By Heath McAlpine

Motorsport Australia has announced the opening three rounds of next year’s ARC calendar. Image: Supplied/Wishart Media

Motorsport Australia has announced the dates and locations for the opening three rounds of the 2021 Australian Rally Championship.

By DAN McCARTHY

It is proposed that next year’s schedule will include six events and comes two weeks after the 2020 season was officially cancelled due to the border closures currently in place with a one round shootout in Canberra to be held in its place.

Announcing the first half of the calendar early enables competitors to sufficiently prepare for next year’s title as well as allowing state championship organisers to plan its events around ARC rounds explained Motorsport Australia director of motorsport and commercial operations Michael Smith.

“It’s fair to say we all wanted more rally action in 2020, but with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this hasn’t been possible,” Smith said.

“With this in mind, we wanted to announce our 2021 calendar as soon as possible and we’ve worked closely with our respective event organisers to make this possible and they have been terrific.

“This early announcement will allow all competitors plenty of time to prepare their cars and lock away their rallying plans for the first half of 2021.”

An official pre-season test kicks off the 2021 ARC season in Ballarat on February 16 before the opening round is the National Capital Rally based in Canberra on March 20-21.

The Forest Rally in Western Australia follows on May 1-2 before heading to the Apple Aisle to tackle Rally Tasmania on June 26-27.

Ongoing COVID-19 related restrictions and border closures will continue to be monitored by Motorsport Australia.

Smith explained that the COVID-19 pandemic will not simply disappear, and therefore the calendar will be changed if necessary.

“We know the COVID-19 pandemic won’t disappear overnight, and we will continue to constantly monitor the border situation and any local restrictions to make sure our events can run safely and welcome as many competitors as possible,” Smith said.

“2020 has been a difficult one for everyone, but it is worth acknowledging that both RSEA Safety & Hire and Hoosier Tires have been terrific in their support of our efforts to deliver events both in 2020 and into the future.”

As previously reported by Auto Action, no Australian Rally Championship will be contested in 2020, however competitors will be able to compete for the RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Cup at this year’s National Capital Rally in November.

Free entry into 2021 ARC events will also be up for grabs through the Hoosier Challenge, in which competitors in 2020 state rounds will be given the opportunity to also take advantage of Hoosier Tire’s buy three, get one tyre free offer.

The remaining three rounds of the 2021 ARC will be announced soon.

2021 RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship Calendar

Pre-season test & launch day: Ballarat, Victoria, 16 February, 2021

Round 1: Netier National Capital Rally, Canberra, 20-21 March, 2021

Round 2: Make Smoking History Forest Rally, WA, 1-2 May, 2021

Round 3: Rally Tasmania, Launceston, 26-27 June, 2021

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