An evening of fast cars and stars and free family fun will flag away the 2016 International Rally of Queensland in spectacular style at Maroochydore on Friday 17 June.
The official Ceremonial Start and party will feature up to 50 rally crews from overseas and Australia, rally car displays, autographs and photo sessions, children’s rides, market stalls and international food bars.
Plenty of great prizes will be available to win, including a weekend stay at a Mantra Resort, passes to The Ginger Factory, Australia Zoo and Aussie World and free return airport transfers with Con-x-ion to Brisbane or Sunshine Coast Airports.
Organisers have planned a family-friendly event, with something to entertain all ages.
After a colourful Welcome to Country ceremony conducted by Lyndon Davis representing traditional custodians the Gubbi Gubbi people, the highlight of the night presented by radio Sea FM will be the flagging-off of the rally cars, one-by-one across a starting ramp.
The International Rally of Queensland, celebrating its 10th year on the Sunshine Coast, will host rounds of the prestigious FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, plus the Kumho Tyres Australian Rally Championship and MRF Tyres Queensland Rally Championship.
The Ceremonial Start will send crews and cars on their way to a challenging weekend of world-class rally competition on 240 kilometres of forestry roads in the Mary Valley.
Champion international drivers including Gaurav Gill (India), Michael Young (New Zealand), Fabian Kreim (Germany), Sanjay Takale (India), Fuyihiko Takahashi (Japan) will go head-to-head with top Australians such as four-time champion Simon Evans, Sunshine Coast local Ryan Smart and the “world’s number one female rally driver” Molly Taylor.
Highlights – Ceremonial Start:
- 5:00pm, Friday 17 June, rally car display, Rotary Park, 37 The Esplanade, Maroochydore
- 5.30pm, Driver autographs
- 6.35pm, Welcome to Country ceremony
- 7:00pm, First car starts
Plus:
- Prizes to be won
- Free rally posters
- International food bars and drinks
- Jumping castle and mini-cars
- Rally spectator tickets on sale
