Canadian Rally Championship Boosts TV, Incentives

The newly formed Rally Development Group (RDG) has licensed broadcast and marketing rights to Canada’s leading rally series, The Canadian Rally Championship (CRC) and is giving it a powerful boost in terms of funding and exposure.

For 2004, The Canadian Rally Championship will incorporate six events across Canada sanctioned and run by CARS (the Canadian Association of Rallysport). Five of these event (the timing precludes televising of the Rallye Perce-Neige Maniwaki) plus a year-end Wrap Up show will be seen across the country in English and French on network television. RDG is currently finalizing details with broadcasters and producers.

New to the CRC will be a $50,000 competitor travel fund designed to assist and reward competitors who enter all of the CRC events.

The organization expects that increased promotion and sponsorship will create large fields of competitors for each event adding to the excitement and prominence of the Championship.

Several new sponsors are being attracted to the invigorated program. Subaru Canada is already on board as a major presenting sponsor.

Keith Townsend and Jud Buchanan lead RDG. Both principals have been drivers and currently are involved in the organization and management of the sport. “It is true to the Canadian spirit,” comments Townsend, noting that rally driving conditions are exactly what Canadian drivers face every day since the driving is on real roads rather than closed racetracks. Marcovitch PR has been retained as communications consultant. “This is a huge area of motorsport that Canadians can relate to,” explains MPR’s John Morris.

“The cars in the CRC are models Canadian consumers see on the roads everyday. Rally racers drive modified stock versions of a booming segment in Canada, the sports compact vehicle,” notes Buchanan, adding, “This series is going to capture the market.”