Motorsport: New Zealand rally left spinning its wheels

New Zealand rallying is being held to ransom by the inability of the world controlling body to make decisions over the timetable and format of next year's world championship.

The crunch will come in Paris on September 8 and 9 when New Zealand rally boss Morrie Chandler tries for some certainty out of the muddle, which is hurting the sport in this country.

Until the world championship dates are fixed, New Zealand cannot finalise its domestic championship. And until the format is confirmed, organisers of the Propecia-sponsored round of the world championship cannot even confirm where it will be based.

Chandler should be well placed to force the issue. He is on the World Motorsport Council and chairman of the World Rally Organisers Commission. But he has been frustrated by the constant delays and changes of plan.

"We were told there would be three years of stability in the championship, but we've had nothing but changes ever since," he said. "I'm going to insist that we deal with the calendars for 2006 and 2007 this time.

"One complicating factor is that Australia hasn't yet decided where its world championship round will be held, and we're being penalised by their inability to make up their minds."

The latest draft calendar for 2006 had the New Zealand round in late November, which would make it difficult to incorporate in the national championship and would also conflict with activities in rural areas where the stages are sited.

New Zealand is fighting the concept of a single service park, arguing that what works in Europe is not appropriate elsewhere. Rally New Zealand has had stages around Paparoa in Northland and Raglan in the Waikato. Organisers may be forced to concentrate on one area.

Gary Upson, chief executive of the rally, has been forced to explore all possibilities as the time for planning the event is eroded by indecision in Europe. Whangarei and Hamilton have been considered as alternative bases for the rally if Auckland is ruled out.

Whangarei is handy to some of the best special stages, but accommodation and some of the infrastructure might be stretched. Mystery Creek near Hamilton would be ideal in many ways but would not be available on some potential dates.

WRITER MOURNED

Rally fans in New Zealand have been saddened by the death of David Williams, for many years rallies editor of the British magazine Motoring News and founding editor of worldrallynews.com. Williams, who was 43, was a regular visitor to this country and assisted the organisers of Rally New Zealand with their news coverage.

NAMES DOT COURSE

Some famous motorsport names will feature among Kiwi Wade Cunningham's opposition on the Sears Point road course in the next round of the infiniti pro series in the United States.

Marco Andretti, grandson of Formula One champion Mario and son of IndyCar ace Michael, has already had success in the championship. Making his debut will be Scott Mansell, no relation of Formula One champion Nigel but also from the English Midlands.

Mansell, winner of the EuroBoss championship in Europe, will drive for expatriate Kiwi Dave McMillan, winner of the 1981 New Zealand Grand Prix.

KEN SMITH KEEPS GOING

Ken Smith is gearing up for another season in the Toyota single-seater class. Smith, who celebrated his 64th birthday this month, is into his 47th year of motorsport and is determined to make 50.

GEOF ARGYLE IN THIRD

Manawatu driver Geof Argyle has slipped to third, one point behind Japan's Toshi Arai after the Malaysian round of the Asia Pacific rally championship. Finn Jussi Kalimaki, who skipped Malaysia, has a big lead.

CHRIS PITHER STRUGGLES



Palmerston North teenager Chris Pither had a rough weekend in the Australian v8 ute championship at Mallala, South Australia. Pither was fast in practice but had a best of 10th in the three races.

FORD BACK IN RACE

Ford is poised to return to domestic rallying in Australia for the first time in 20 years with a development of the Focus. The car is expected to debut at the Bathurst Rally in October.

PARTNERSHIP ENDURES

Craig Baird will partner his regular Aussie v8 supercar team-mate, David Besnard, in the WPS Ford Falcon in the endurance races at Sandown next month and Bathurst in October.