Standing up for Rally Norway: From the left NAF deputy president Odd Samuelsen, RVI chairman Erik T. Veiby, KNA board member Arild Hansen and NBF president Roar Forgaard.

FIA Clubs becomes new shareholders in Rally Norway

The two Norwegian FIA Clubs, Royal Norwegian Automobile Club (KNA) and Norwegian Automobile Federation (NAF) are new shareholders in the Norwegian WRC round, Rally Norway.

Together with the Norwegian Automobile Sport Federation (NBF) the two clubs will control 67 % of the shares in the company Rally Norway AS. The remaining 33 % are controlled by local investors, trough the company RVI AS. The private placing signed in Oslo 19 December gives Rally Norway about 300,000 Euros in fresh capital.

– As FIA members we want to show responsibility in a difficult economic situation for international motor sport. We believe in Rally Norway, and we belive in the future of the WRC with the new regulations coming from 2010. Our aim is to develop the rally to be even better than in 2007, and to keep the event in WRC for a long term, says NAF deputy president Odd Samuelsen and member of the board in KNA, Arild Hansen.

– We are very pleased to have the two FIA clubs KNA and NAF as partners. Now we have the very best backing by the major organisations in motor sport and mobility in Norway as partners, says chairman of RVI, Erik T. Veiby.

– The economical foundation of Rally Norway has been considerably strengthened. In these financially difficult times it is important to show that the Norwegian FIA clubs and national ASN are pulling together to secure the FIA championship event in Norway. The immediate reaction from potential sponsors and official bodies are very positive saying that the positive and financial contributions from the two clubs are important for the future of Rally Norway, says president of NBF, Roar Forgaard.

Rally Norway will take place from 12th to 15th of February 2009, and will be the second of the 12 rounds in the World Rally Championship 2009. The rally will be based in Hamar as in 2007, but the opening show will be in Oslo on Thursday night with a Super Special Stage at the Bjerke trotting track.

More information:

General Manager Rally Norway: Even Wiger, tel.: +47 913 13 645

Communications Manager KNA: Hallgeir Raknerud, tel.: +47 9002 9006

Published: 2008-12-23 09:06