Council Jump Starts Rally Championships

Start your engines! Whitsunday Regional Council today approved $25,000 sponsorship to host a
round of the Queensland Rally Championships to jump start the region’s first Whitsunday Motoring
Festival in October.

Mayor Andrew Willcox said major events such as the Qld Rally Championships will have positive
flow-on benefits for the whole region with events planned in Proserpine, Airlie Beach, Bowen and
Hydeaway Bay.

“The Whitsunday Motoring Festival will be a three day event from October 12-14 with a series of
motoring events designed to showcase our diverse region,” he said.

“Hosting round five of the Qld Rally Championships will promote the Whitsundays as an ideal
location for future rally events.

“On the back on the successful Round the World Clipper Carnival which drew over 4000 visitors to
the Whitsundays, this is another strategic investment by council to attract major state, national and
international events.

“It is our hope that the inaugural Whitsunday Motoring Festival evolves from a round of the Qld
Rally Championships in year one, into an Australian Rally Championship next year and then a
round of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championships in the near future,” Mayor Willcox said.

“Attracting these championships forms a key part of council’s broader strategy to spread events
throughout the region with future activities in Collinsville and surrounding areas being explored.

“It is about getting the runs on the board and proving the ability of our region to host these events.

“The estimated flow on economic benefits to our region from this inaugural event, with additional
visitation from rally competitors, officials and spectators, is close to $1 million.”

Regional events proposed as part of the 2018 Whitsunday Motoring Festival include:

DAY ONE
 Rally cars, and cars from associated motor clubs on display at Abell Point Marina
 A parade of rally and motor club cars through the main street of Airlie Beach
 A welcome function on the foreshore at Abell Point Marina – including live entertainment,
food and beverage stalls and kids’ activities

DAY TWO
 Fifth and final round of Queensland Rally Championships utilising roads around Hideaway
Bay and Bowen
 Motoring HQ at Bowen foreshore, including street track and hill climb, with food & beverage
stalls and kids’ activities for spectators
 Presentation evening for Rally and motor club participants at Abell Point Marina

DAY THREE
 Static display at Proserpine Showgrounds
PO Box 104 Proserpine Qld 4800 P: 07 4945 0200 F: 07 4945 0222 E: info@whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au W: www.whitsundayrc.qld.gov.au ABN 63 291 580 128
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 11 APRIL, 2018
File Ref: CN/12/004
 Motoring activities at Tonker Park
 Closing event for Rally and motor club participants at Mantra Club Croc

Source: Whitsunday Regional Council.