Rally Australia organisers have announced major changes to its route for the 2018 running of the event which marks the end of the World Rally Championship season.
The New South Wales Coffs Coast rally will see all but eight of the 24 competition stages change or undergo modifications, including a higher and longer jump on the rally-closing Wedding Bells Power Stage.
The traditional opening Ceremonial Start and Rally Show on Thursday afternoon will move to a new waterside location near the iconic Coffs Harbour Jetty, with free entry for spectators.
The Destination New South Wales Super Special Stage will return on Friday and Saturday nights on the same 1.27km road beside Coffs Harbour, but drivers will face new obstacles in the form of two jumps and a water splash.
A total of 16 stages will use different roads or sections of former roads in reverse.
The longest stage of the event will be the 28.8 km Argents Hill Reverse on Saturday, using more than half the roads of the former Nambucca stage, regarded as one of the WRC’s most challenging.
Saturday’s 1.97km Raleigh stage will be run twice for the first time, offering spectators close-up, elevated views of the action and easy highway access from Coffs Harbour.
"Kennards Hire Rally Australia will be the biggest rally event of the year in this part of the world and the climax to one of the most exciting world championship seasons in recent seasons," event chairman Ben Rainsford said.
"Series leader Thierry Neuville and his nearest rival Sébastien Ogier are going to battle all the way to the last stage in Australia. We couldn’t be more excited about the contest to come and the new route our sporting organisers have devised to test men and machines to the limits."
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