Revamped format set to revitalise asia-pacific

This year’s Asia-pacific Rally Championship will run with a radically different format for the first time.

In an effort to enhance competition in one of the most geographically diverse championships in the world, a new seven-round APRC calendar will be split into Asia and Pacific regions. The four Pacific Cup rounds are: Rally of Otago and Rally of Whangarei in New Zealand while Australia provides Rally Tasmania and the Eureka Rally. The Asia Cup rounds are Rally of Medan (Indonesia), Rally of Johor (Malaysia), Rally Hokkaido (Japan) and China Rally.

Two groups of drivers from both regions will then qualify for the APRC finale at the India Rally in late November. This event will decide the APRC winner.

FIA APRC Working Group president Vicky Chandhok said: “We’re getting there. We’ve organised a very radical change which is a new and vibrant format for the FIA APRC.”