A fresh and vastly improved Super Special Stage covering a 1.6km course has been added to the Coates Hire Rally Australia round at Coffs Harbour from September 11-14.
The new layout will replace the cramped location and course used next to the CBD last year.
Now located approximately three kilometres south of the city centre, the Hyundai Super Special is conveniently situated next to the Hi-Tec Oils Service Park.
It will be used on the Friday and Saturday nights of the 10th round of the World Rally Championship.
“These will be nights packed with unforgettable entertainment – the Hyundai Super Special Stage will be a must-see highlight of Coates Hire Rally Australia in 2014,” event manager David Catchpole said.
“Spectators will be able to get quite close to the action and experience the sight and sound of a World Rally Car at full tilt.
“I'm sure the course we have developed will provide a terrific challenge for drivers, with the inclusion of several spectacular jumps.”
Mr Catchpole welcomed Hyundai Motor Company Australia as a major new sponsor of Coates Hire Rally Australia.
“It's very exciting to have Hyundai on board not only as an event sponsor, but also as a participant in the WRC with the Hyundai Shell World Rally Team and Australia's Chris Atkinson as one of its drivers in September,” Mr Catchpole said.
Leading Australian driver Adrian Coppin put his Citroen DS3 through its paces around the Super Special which has some jumps built in.
“This is going to be real fun for the drivers and spectators,” Coppin said.
“It's quite tight and challenging and will keep us very busy. Each driver gets to do two laps, so there will be constant action to entertain the crowds.”
The daytime Special Stages will be run on forestry and shire roads in the Coffs Coast region to the north, west and south of the service park.
Spectator tickets for Coates Hire Rally Australia, including the Hyundai Super Special Stage, will be on sale soon through NRMAtix.