Breaking News: The Rally Australia has been cancelled

The Kennards Hire Rally Australia, scheduled for this week (November 14 – 17) has been cancelled due to serious bushfires affected much of northern New South Wales close to the event’s Coffs Harbour base.

Organisers announced the cancellation after consultation with the State Government, the FIA, emergency services and the local community. New South Wales is experiencing its worst fire conditions, resulting in the declaration of a state of emergency, a total fire ban and conditions in some regions classified as ‘catastrophic’.

Catastrophy struck New South Wales (photo: The Daily Telegraph)

Event chairman Andrew Papadopoulos said the cancellation was the only course available, considering the need to take care of more than 1,000 people involved as officials and competitors and in other roles.

“Considering the best interests and safety of everyone involved in the rally and of course the wider community, it is not appropriate to conduct the rally. Our 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, and we thank the rally community for your support and understanding,” he said.

Before the cancellation, the organisers had prepared a revised schedule covering a reduced route of about 90km, but comprising multiple runs over four stages. Monday night’s end-of-season WRC Gala Night at the Australian National Maritime Museum in Sydney’s picturesque Darling Harbour has also been cancelled.

The cancellation means that 2019 WRC season is over and Hyundai Motorsport is taking the Manufacturers’ title, together with Toyota’s current driver and their future driver Ott Tanak who already secured Drivers’ title.