While the local rally legs in the Bellingen Shire have not been confirmed in any shape of form, it was announced this afternoon that Rally Australia had won its bid to host the final round of the 2016 FIA World Rally Championship, with the date set for November 17-20.

It is known that the Australian WRC event will be staged on the Coffs Coast for the fifth time, supported by the State Government through its Destination NSW tourism and events organisation. This year's rally saw two of the three days with action in the Nambucca Valley, where in previous years legs around Coffs Harbour had dominated.

The WRC calendar of 14 rounds is one more than in recent seasons and including China for the first time since 1999.

WRC Promoter managing director Oliver Ciesla said Rally Australia fully deserved its place as the World Championship finale, praising the organising team and its “refreshing approach” to promotional opportunities.

Rally Australia chairman Ben Rainsford said the “prize” spot on the calendar offered valuable potential benefits to the region – plus a new opportunity to showcase the WRC in Sydney.

“Moving to November re-positions Rally Australia away from competition for spectator attendance and media coverage with other major domestic sporting fixtures, which we’ve had to contend with around our recent date in September,” Mr Rainsford said.

“Without the need to rush home to the northern hemisphere for the next event, many international rally visitors will have an opportunity to stay on and see more of the beautiful Coffs Coast region and NSW – something they have said they want to do.

“We are also planning to take the WRC to Sydney the night after the event finishes for a post-season gala function.

“This will be a new feature of the WRC season and will bring all the glamour of one of the world’s great motorsport championships to one of the most spectacular cities in the world, Sydney.

“I have spoken in the past week to WRC representatives, including team managers, about the Sydney gala plan and they’re enthusiastically behind it.

“It will be a night to applaud not only the champions, but also the other stars and those behind the scenes among the teams, organisers and media – and for everyone to let their hair down after 11 months travelling to 14 countries and five continents.”

Rally Australia last hosted the WRC closing round in 1994 and 1995, when it was staged in Western Australia.

“With the support of the Coffs Coast community we’ve worked hard to meet the WRC’s high expectations for organisation, promotion and the sporting challenge and are delighted we’ve been rewarded with this prestigious calendar slot and a further contract for 2017,” Mr Rainsford said.

“As Rally Australia experienced in the mid-1990s and as Adelaide did in its Formula 1 hey-days, hosting the closing round of a world championship creates a very exciting atmosphere. We’ll be making sure the third weekend in November 2016 wraps up with great celebrations for spectators, the locals and the WRC international visitors.”