Previous year's Coffs Coast Rally action.

The Coffs Coast Advocate

COFFS Harbour's terrible weather has claimed another victim.

This year's Coffs Coast Rally which was going to be part of the Australian Rally Championship (ARC) has been forced into cancellation.

The Confederation of Australian Motor Sport (CAMS) has confirmed that following consultations with the Coffs Harbour and District Car Club (CHDCC), the Coffs Harbour round of the 2009 Australian Rally Championship will not take place.

The torrential rains endured on March 31 and May 21 in northern NSW caused road damage which led to the postponement of the event from its scheduled June date. A November window to hold the event was being sought.

Concerns about the capacity for the road damage to be repaired in time for a rescheduled date later in the year as well as the crowded calendar prior to Christmas has meant that it has not been possible to identify a viable alternate date to run the event as part of the Australian Rally Championship in 2009.

“It is very disappointing for the Coffs Harbour and District Car Club to have to surrender the event,” Daikin Coffs Coast Rally event manager Martin Quinn said.

“We worked closely with the Australian Rally Commission (ARCom) and CAMS for some weeks to try and construct an event model that would be viable.

“Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, the only practical dates identified would be too close to other major rally events in NSW.

“It wouldn't be responsible to try to run an event at a time when it might adversely impact on other events and a strong entry for the Coffs event could not be guaranteed.”

If there is a silver lining to this black cloud, it is the fact that ARCom were so impressed with last year's event that they not only want the Coffs Harbour event to again be part of the National Championship in July next year but they also want an agreement to be made to host a round in Coffs Harbour in 2011 and 2012 as well.