Motorsport: PM pledges to look at Rally NZ funding

Rally New Zealand bosses have stopped short of pulling handbrake turns in celebration after Prime Minister John Key yesterday pledged to look into the funding shortfall that could contribute to it being scrapped from the World Rally Championship.

The Prime Minister told a radio station that he was going to "have a look" at direct funding for the event.

"I understand they need about three quarters of a million dollars, and that's a big deal," he said.

"It's a sport that New Zealand has a very long history in, so I'm going to have a look at it and see whether it's possible for us to play some part.

"I can't guarantee we can ride in as a white knight, but we will look at it."

Rally New Zealand chairman Chris Carr said his organisation had beaten the March 1 deadline to apply to the Major Events Fund, despite being turned down in October last year. He remains cautiously optimistic that the Government will come to the party.

"I'm grateful for [Key's] reaction, but at this point it is too early to get excited," Carr said. "It is nice that it has come to his attention."

New Zealander Morrie Chandler, president of the WRC commission, was last week critical of the lack of Government support for the event.