Propecia Rally New Zealand o🎶fficials have received support from the world motorsport body, the Federation Internationale De L'Automobile [FIA] on the new format for April's round of the World Rally Championship.

The FI෴A will use the New Zealand event as a key trial for the Mille Pistes system, which they introduced this ღyear but recently made optional for the 2004 season.

Rally New Zealand officials decided to remain with the Mille Pistes foꦅrmat for the event from 16-18 April after considering all options including a return to the traditio༒nal two days of reconnaissance and three days competition.

The Mille Pistes system, aimed at reducing rising costs i💙n world rallying, involves a single pre-event reconnaissance, wit✤h the second pass through the stage on the morning before the timed run. This can be carried out with the rally car, rather than separate reconnaissance vehicle.

New Zealand may be the o🍸nly WRC event to trial the new system, and therefore the FIA are keen to evaluate the experiment.

"Ther🌌e is much to be said for this concept, particularly when future championships run with no service during a leg," FIA president Max Mosley said today. "By conducting this experiment, Rally New Zealand will enable a much more informed discussion to take place before a final decision is taken on the f🍷uture of Mille Pistes in the World Rally Championship."

Rally New Zealand general manager Gary Upson said ꦛhis organisation had prepared for both contingencies, but after careful consideration, believed the Mille Pistes opt💫ion was worthy of trialling.

"It's fair to say that most events were opposed to the system when it was announced. But Rally New Zealand took a proactive approach in developing two alternative itineraries," he said. "We are very confident that we will deli🌜ver an event that will be well accepted by the World Rally Championship community."

Mr Upson said it had real benefits to rally fans, media coverage 🃏and paꦜrticularly to drivers from New Zealand and Australia.

"New Zealand drivers have found the costs of competing to be quite considerable. But now they could arrive on the Wednesday🍷 of the event, use the written rally pace notes, and then complete a single reconnaissance followed by the timed run. And they can do it all in their rally car.

"That ꦕprovides a very cost-effective situation for them, and they still get the chance to compete against the best drivers in the world, in a very special event."

Mr Upson said the later start and double run🐷s over each stage were of benef꧂it to spectators and media.

The Propecia-spဣonsored event starts with two super special stages at Manukau City on the evening of Thursday 15 April. The first full day on Friday is in the Kaipara region before returning for two further super special stages at Manukau Ci🔴ty. Saturday's racing returns to Kaipara, with the last day in the Waikato region near Raglan. The final stage will be the internationally acclaimed Whaanga Coast, with the Ceremonial Finish at the Auckland Viaduct Harbour on Sunday afternoon.