Record participation as volunteers from clubs and associations sign up
”This is motivating. Rally Norway is even more popular that we thought. We have hardly even appealed yet and volunteers are streaming in”, said managing director Jim Carlsen after clubs and associations in the entire rally region of Hedmark and Oppland signed up to play a role in making a winter rally that gets the world’s attention.
Rally Norway 2006, scheduled for 10th and 11th February, has official FIA candidate event status with a strong possibility of becoming a permanent fixture in the World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar from 2007.
“We have everything from the Women’s Air Corps in Ringsaker and hockey players from the Storhamar Dragons” said Børger Brænd, leafing through the registrations. Brænd is Rally Norway’s assistant chief marshal with responsibility for liaison with clubs and associations.
“What strikes me is the enthusiasm beaming out of the applications. Everyone wants to be a part of this and help make Rally Norway a party,” he added.
Clubs and associations of all descriptions have been in contact with Rally Norway: sports teams, choirs, bands, territorial army and cadets as well as the obvious motor clubs. By 17th October, Brænd had already registered 38 teams ranging in location from Lillehammer in the north to Kongsvinger in the south.
Rally Norway needs approximately 4500 voluntary marshals and officials. The organisation has invited clubs and associations to sign up to be special stage marshals, car parking stewards, hot dog sellers, entertainment and hospitality organisers and many other positions, large and small, which are required to arrange a WRC event.
“This is both rewarding and profitable for clubs. The annual WRC event in Sweden enables some clubs to earn between 2 and 4 million kroner. With corresponding sums in Norway, Rally Norway would become one of the most significant income generators in the area for local social and cultural activities,” points out Børger Brænd.
Everyone who has signed up can soon expect a phone call from Rally Norway regarding which post is relevant for them. During the course of November there will also be a series of information meetings across the rally route from Kongsvinger through Finnskogen and to the mountains by Lillehammer.
“It’s not too late to join in. We are continuing to take applications, from both clubs and individuals. The registration form is on www.rallynorway.no,” explains assistant Brænd.
Norsk
