Rally New Zealand are continuing to explore options for the remainder of the 2020 New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC), but series coordinator Blair Bartels says that nothing can be confirmed.
Earlier this year it was annouced that April’s Otago Rally and the International Rally of Whangarei in May had both been postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic.
But when asked about any updates concerning the next two NZRC events held in Canterbury and Hawkes Bay, Bartels said that nothing can be confirmed at the moment.
“Unfortunately, regarding the NZRC at this point in time everything is up in the air,” Bartels told Velocity News.
“Once we have an idea of when we may come out of lockdown then we can continue to work through what the NZRC may look like for this season.”
Yet it is a completely different situation on the World Rally Championship front.
Rally NZ Chief executive Michael Goldstein issued a statement yesterday confirming that the organisation is still continuing ahead with its preparation to host a round of the WRC in September.
“Rally New Zealand is continuing to prepare to host a leg of the World Rally Championships in Auckland in September,” the statement read.
“Of course there is currently major global uncertainty affecting everyone, including the 2020 World Rally Championship.
“Over the coming weeks we will continue to liaise closely with local and central government agencies as well as the WRC Promoter and international governing body (FIA).”
The WRC Rally New Zealand is slated to be the second round of the championship once it resumes for rally Finland in August.