This week the Nine Network will broadcast all the high-octane highlights of the Kennards Hire Rally Australia – the Australian leg of the FIA World Rally Championship.
Beginning on Thursday, November 17, the final round of the World Rally Championship takes the crews to the New South Wales north coast and the gravel shire roads around Coffs Harbour. Celebrating its 25th running this year, and the fifth time on the Coffs Coast, Rally Australia presents a mix of challenges with fast and technical stages in the forests and gravel roads in the open countryside. A mix of new stages will add to the challenge as could the weather, with the event being held two months later than previously.
While the FIA World Rally Championship titles have provisionally been secured by Sébastien Ogier, Julien Ingrassia and Volkswagen Motorsport, the battle for second and third continues. In the FIA WRC 2 Championship category the title fight is open. This is the remaining title that crews can fight for, since the Junior and WRC 3 Championships have also been secured.
Teemu Suninen, topping the standings, has completed all his nominated rounds and, as the Finn will not be competing in Australia, Esapekka Lappi – his only rival – has the fate of the championship in his own hands and needs to finish first or second to claim a maiden WRC 2 title.