Motorsport: Change of date for rally championship

The world rally championship will be staged in New Zealand in late August in 2007 and 2008.

Jordon will host the championship for the first time in 2008 while South Africa, Poland and Cyprus must compete for another slot, the sport's governing body said overnight (NZ time).

The Australian and Turkish rallies, dropped for 2007, were also reinstated for 2008 on draft calendars for the next two years published by the International Automobile Federation (FIA).

South Africa, Cyprus and Poland were listed with asterisks denoting that their non-championship events would be subject to inspection next year with one of the three to be included in 2008.

Australia, Cyprus and Turkey, all on this year's championship, have been dropped for 2007 when Ireland and Norway make their debuts and Portugal returns.

Norway, Portugal, Ireland and Mexico were absent from the 2008 calendar, with Jordan making its debut instead.

The rally comes to New Zealand later than usual next year and in 2008.

The 2007 rally is scheduled to be staged from August 31 to September 2 and from August 29-31 the following year.

2007 CALENDAR:

Jan. 19-21 - Monte Carlo

Feb. 9-11 - Sweden

16-18 - Norway

March 9-11 - Mexico

March 30-April 1 - Portugal

May 4-6 - Argentina

May 18-20 - Italy/Sardinia

June 1-3 - Acropolis/Greece

Aug 3-5 - Finland

Aug 17-19 - Germany

Aug 31-Sept 2 - NEW ZEALAND

Oct 5-7 - Spain

Oct 12-14 - France/Corsica

Oct 26-28 - Japan

Nov 16-18 - Ireland

Nov 30-Dec 2 - Britain

2008 calendar

Jan 25-27 - Monte Carlo

Feb 8-10 - Sweden

March 7-9 - South Africa*

March 28-30 - Jordan

April 11-13 - Cyprus*

April 25-27 - Argentina

May 16-18 - Italy/Sardinia

May 30-June 1 - Acropolis/Greece

June 13-15 - Turkey

June 27-29 - Poland*

Aug 1-3 - Finland

Aug 15-17 - Germany

Aug 29-31 - NEW ZEALAND

Sept. 12-14 - Australia

Oct 3-5 - Spain

Oct 10-12 - France/Corsica

Oct 24-26 - Japan

Nov 28-30 - Britain

* subject to inspection in 2007, one of three to be chosen

- REUTERS