The Sullivan County Visitors Association and Rally New York, Ltd. have reached an agreement to pursue a bid for a future round of the World Rally Championship. Rally New York, Ltd. is seeking approval to submit a bid to the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) to host a World Rally Championship here in the Sullivan County Catskills. The FIA is interested in expanding the World Rally series especially with a location in the United States. The observation year would be slated for early 2007 with the actual event held from 2008 on an annual basis.
Rally New York, Ltd. has already received approval from the Town Supervisors of the towns where the championship would be held and legislative approval from Sullivan County. “We are very interested in bringing an automobile race of this importance to Sullivan County and fully support the efforts of this experienced promoter” stated Chris Cunningham, the Sullivan County Legislative Chairman. The Sullivan County Visitors Association is working hand in hand with Rally New York seeking public and private partnerships to sponsor the event. “A World Championship event of this caliber will give Sullivan County world recognition and a substantial boost to the economy of Sullivan County, the region and the entire State of New York” said Roberta Byron-Lockwood, President & CEO of the Sullivan County Visitors Association.
Ivan Orisek, President of Rally New York, Ltd. stated that the process is a two year venture with the first year being an observation event in which observers from the FIA would evaluate the rally to see if it meets specifications to be included into the World Rally Championship. The next year would be the actual event seen on TV by hundreds of millions of rally fans around the world. The economic effects of an event of this magnitude are millions of dollars during the event and residual millions due to the extreme exposure of the race.
Ed Jackson, Deputy Clerk of the Course added: “This is a culmination of our five-year effort to bring rallying in the United States out of distant wilderness inaccessible to spectators and to the vicinity of New York City.” Sullivan County Catskills is a resort area located only 90 miles northwest of New York City with excellent highway access.
Rally New York, Ltd. is already the promoter of Rally New York USA and International Rally New York, two of the eight events being held in the 2006 United States Rally Championship. Rally New York will seek support of ACCUS, the United States Affiliate of FIA, the United States Auto Club (USAC) and National Auto Sport Association (NASA) for the bid to the FIA.
Herb Clark
Vice President of Marketing & Sales
Sullivan County Visitors Association
(800) 882-CATS
hcc@scva.net
