Win for NSW as car rally locked in

The FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship is slated for a triumphant comeback to the northern NSW town of Coffs Harbour.

For two years, rally car enthusiasts have despaired that a premier event on their sporting calendar has been cancelled — first because of bushfires and then COVID-19.

But now the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship is slated for a triumphant comeback: the NSW government will announce its return to the northern NSW town of Coffs Harbour on Tuesday, where the final leg will be contested over three days in November.

“NSW has been the world leader when it comes to handling COVID and we have shown our ability to host premier events while keeping people safe,” said Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who will announce the championship’s return at a raceway south of Coffs Harbour.

In recent months NSW has secured the Rugby Championships, which played out at the close of 2020, as well as two World Surf League championships, originally slated to be held in Victoria.

It has also claimed the Women’s Big Bash League.

Created in 1988, the APRC stretches across a significant portion of the globe, taking in two continents and multiple countries, from New Zealand to Japan. It will hold races in New Zealand, Japan, Adelaide and China before holding its final leg in Coffs Harbour.

Mr Barilaro will also outline details of a newly established Regional Events Acceleration Fund designed to assist communities with the cost of hosting major sporting, lifestyle, music and cultural events.

Applicants can apply for a minimum of $100,000 from the $20m fund to assist with hosting such events. Additional grants of $50,000 to $200,000 will be made available to pay for activities that enhance these events, such as extra seating, temporary fencing, additional stages at festivals, pop-up camping sites or temporary car parks.