Rally organisers look overseas

Press, 19 December 1984, Page 49

Rally organisers look overseas

PA Wellington The organisers of the 1985 New Zealand International Motor Rally have started to look overseas in their search for a major sponsor. Organisers are concentrating their effors in Japan, and have arranged for the Japanese Automobile Association to act as its agent, the organising committee chairman. Morrie Chandler, said. “At this stage they have said there is an interest but are not able to give us any names of companies," he said. There was no reason why a Japanese sponsor had to have products to sell in New Zealand, because the event was an international one which lent itself to commodity identity and product awareness world-wide, Mr Chandler said. “Ideally they should have

interests here to take advantage of the many opportunities that exist, but we are aware that this year's rally attracted possibly greater coverage overseas than in New Zealand. “A video made of the event was shown on North American cable television, in Scandinavian countries, parts of Europe and the United Kingdom.” Overseas motor rally annual and bi-weekly magazines had also covered the event extensively, he said.

The organisers are still looking for a New Zealand sponsor however. “The sort of money we are talking about is really petty cash for many of this country’s larger companies. There is no doubt that a sponsor would reap tremendous benefits.” He said next year's rally would go ahead if a sponsor was not found, but it would mean the rally's chances of retaining world championship status for 1986 would be in total jeopardy.