Norway submits bid for WRC 2007

Norway’s official bid for a round in the 2007 World Rally Championship has been submitted and work is now underway with Rally Norway’s arrangements for a candidate race, which, pending the FIA’s agreement, will be scheduled for February 2006.

"All the signals we receive are positive," said Rally Norway MD Jim Carlsen.  "There are other countries also bidding for new WRC rounds but none of them is a winter rally.  Norway has so much to offer and seems to be a popular choice with the teams and TV producers. 

"In addition to providing beautiful winter roads Rally Norway will meet the need of all the manufacturer teams to reduce spending. Together with Uddeholm Swedish Rally we can offer as close as it gets to two rallies for the cost of one."

A team from Rally Norway, including representatives from the sporting committee, event management and commercial group, attended Neste Rally Finland (4 - 8 August) to gather information and meet with the sport’s organisers and participants.

Carlsen added, "Our team carried out a very successful fact finding mission in Finland, contributing to a thorough programme of preparations which is happening behind the scenes.  We want to be able to organise the best rally possible for teams, drivers and rally fans." 

One of the first to hear the news of Norway’s bid was Petter Solberg.  "It’s a sportsperson’s dream to compete in a world class event hosted by his home nation, so I really hope we get a WRC round in Norway.  I am convinced that it will be a success. There could be no better reward for all the passionate rally fans and the people who have worked hard over the years to develop rallying in Norway," he said.  Solberg hopes to participate in this winter’s candidate race but admitted the decision would be made by his employer.  "It’s really up to the boss, but I would be absolutely thrilled if David Lapworth (Subaru’s team manager) asked me to take part."

Norway’s application to organise a round of the World Rally Championship coincides with the pairing of rounds becoming a hot topic in the rally community. The FIA World Motorsport Council has approved an initiative for individual organisers to work together in arranging pairs of WRC rounds in 2007. Rally Norway and the organisers of the Uddeholm Rally Sweden are currently co-operating closely to arrange their winter rallies one week apart. It is not yet clear how many events there will be in 2007, but paired events are being trialled this year, with the Rally of France (Corsica) and Rally of Spain to be held a week apart in October.