NEWS RELEASE #1 – Issued 3 January 2012 

CHANGES TO BVR FORMAT FOR 2012

After three years of looping to and from the centralised Edrom Road service area (limiting the area in which the rally could use), the route of the 2012 Bega Valley Rally will extend further south with use of a second service area at Genoa. 

“We have set the event to include a couple of stages on the Victorian side of the border near Genoa, allowing us to include two magnificent shire roads which twist and turn for some 30 kilometres”, said Tom Snooks, Clerk of Course, when releasing details of the rally planning recently. 

The course will run over ten special stages (none of which are repeats) with an increase in competitive distance (to 190km from 175km last year) but a decrease in overall distance (350km instead of 440km). 

This year the course includes three stages never used before, and previous stages have been re-arranged to provide a competitive event over the smoothest roads yet selected from the rally’s region. There are no repeat stages and no double use of roads other than one short section of five kilometres that will be used twice.  The lengths vary from 13 to 30km – the final length selection being 13, 14, 15, 17 (x2), 20, 22, 24, 30”. These represent 55% of the total event distance. 

The Victorian Championship will be conducted in two heats, one of 90 kilometres and a second over 100 kilometres, and the Short Course for non-championship crews will cover 270 kilometres with 140 (53%) being competitive. 

“This year the event will also feature a 0730 start, which means all competitors in a 60 car field will complete the special stages before darkness”. 

Four spectator viewing areas have been established for this year, and three of them are within 13 km of the Edrom Road service park, allowing service crews opportunities to see their crews in action and be back at the service park for the next visit. 

Eden, with good accommodation available, provides an opportunity for a family break, or a gathering of mates of like soul, over the long weekend. Enquiries on accommodation can be made to the Eden Information Centre at info@tourism.com.au, or by telephone on (02) 6496 1953.

Click here for State Rally and ACR Regional Series dates for 2012