Proactive change in Rally Norway management

Rally VM Invest AS (the commercial arm of Rally Norway) has appointed JC Communication AS and Jim Carlsen to secure sponsorship and thereby establish long term income for Rally Norway following the candidate event in February 2006.

Through JC Communication, Jim Carlsen will continue to assist Rally Norway with international motorsport relations work as well as being an active consultant on strategy, marketing and PR.

Consequently Even Wiger takes over as managing director of Rally Norway. Wiger has been central to the Norwegian WRC project from its conception in 2001 and his extensive experience will ensure continuity for the organisation.

“This change has been planned and well-considered,” said new managing director Even Wiger. “It means Rally Norway can make the best use of Jim Carlsen’s expertise. He deserves much credit for Rally Norway establishing itself and being recognised by the international rally community as a serious WRC candidate. We have come far in this work and reached the point where we need him to take on new and important challenges on the commercial side.”

“Sponsorship income will be absolutely vital for Rally Norway as a WRC round. Nobody is better qualified for success in finding the right sponsor partners and ensuring that they get maximum return from a sponsorship with Rally Norway,” added Wiger.

Jim Carlsen was appointed managing director of Rally Norway in 2004. He is Henning Solberg’s manager and previously managed Petter Solberg for a number of years, including 2003 when Solberg won the World Rally Championship.