Breaking news

WRC Rally Australia

Rally Australia "significantly shortened" amid bush fires

Rally Australia organisers have confirmed a ‘significantly shortened’ route for this week’s final round of the World Rally Championship – if the Coffs Harbour-based event goes ahead at all due to a worsening fire situation in the area.

Matt Beer

Published: Nov 10, 2019, 11:55 AM

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

Sébastien Ogier, Julien Ingrassia, Ford Fiesta WRC, M-Sport Ford

Bush fires have been burning for days in New South Wales and worsening weather conditions – including strengthening winds set to run into Tuesday – are making it impossible for the organisers to get into the stages to set them up for the start of the recce on Tuesday morning.

The national rally, which follows the main WRC field, has been cancelled. The entrants have been invited to participate in demonstration runs at the superspecial stages in Coffs Harbour.

“Rally Australia’s thoughts are with the NSW community, especially the people who have lost loved ones, livelihoods and homes as a result of the fires in northern NSW,” a spokesman said.

A Rally Australia statement said: “Organisers of Kennards Hire Rally Australia still hope to go ahead with the closing round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) this week.

“The rally is consulting with emergency services, authorities and the local community about the evolving fire situation in the region, but hopes to stage the WRC season finale on a significantly shortened course.”

More than 60 fires are burning through New South Wales, some of which impact directly on the route for Rally Australia. Three people have died in the fires and thousands of homes are affected.

A spokesman from the event said: “Rally Australia’s thoughts are with the NSW community, especially the people who have lost loved ones, livelihoods and homes as a result of the fires in northern NSW.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Read also :

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Facebook

Share on Twitter

Share on WhatsApp

Share on Linkedin

Share on Pinterest

Share on Viber

Previous article Rally Australia facing threat from raging bush fires

Next article Rally Australia set to be reduced to 59 timed miles

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

More from

Matt Beer



Ferrari drivers escape punishment for clash

Formula 1

Formula 1

Brazilian GP

Ferrari drivers escape punishment for clash



Hamilton accepts full responsibility for Albon collision

Formula 1

Formula 1

Brazilian GP

Hamilton accepts full responsibility for Albon collision



Vettel, Leclerc called to stewards over accident

Formula 1

Formula 1

Brazilian GP

Vettel, Leclerc called to stewards over accident

Latest news



GTA VI 'Vice City' blimp to appear at NASCAR championship weekend

NASCAR Cup

NAS NASCAR Cup

Phoenix II

4 h

GTA VI 'Vice City' blimp to appear at NASCAR championship weekend



Verstappen Racing struggles to 15th as Porsche takes emotional Portimao pole

GT World Challenge Europe Endurance

WCEE GT World Challenge Europe Endurance 5 h

Verstappen Racing struggles to 15th as Porsche takes emotional Portimao pole



Franco Colapinto urges fans to stop the abuse: “You’re not helping me or my future”

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Singapore GP

9 h

Franco Colapinto urges fans to stop the abuse: “You’re not helping me or my future”



Gresini: New MotoGP rules won't increase gap between factory and satellite teams

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Indonesian GP

9 h

Gresini: New MotoGP rules won't increase gap between factory and satellite teams

Feature

Discover prime content



A story of persistence as Elfyn Evans' long wait for WRC glory finally ends

WRC

Rally Italy

By Tom Howard

A story of persistence as Elfyn Evans' long wait for WRC glory finally ends



How Elfyn Evans made WRC history in Hollywood blockbuster Sardinia decider

WRC

Rally Italy

By Tom Howard

How Elfyn Evans made WRC history in Hollywood blockbuster Sardinia decider



What a revival of the World Rally Championship could look like

WRC

By Tom Howard

What a revival of the World Rally Championship could look like



How Oliver Solberg lit up WRC title fight in Chile

WRC

Rally Chile

By Tom Howard

How Oliver Solberg lit up WRC title fight in Chile

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts

Subscribe