Rally Australia lobbies FIA for race date change
Rally Australia is keen to have the local race held in November and become the last on the World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar.
Rally Australia is currently staged in forests around Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Bellingen, Bowraville and Nambucca in September.
In terms of publicity and attention for spectators, if it were in November, it would be far less difficult than September when there's a lot of sport on in Australia
Great Britain hosts the final leg and the celebrations that go with it.
Organisers say Australia could benefit from better weather, and less competition with football codes.
But spokesman Chris Nixon said the sport's governing body, the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) will have to be convinced.
"We think we can put up some very good arguments, not only for our own benefit but for the WRC's as well," he said.
"That's an argument we'll push very strongly with the FIA.
"Some members traditionally like to have the celebrations in their own part of the world, but we can also see very good reasons for it to be here."
Mr Nixon said staging the Australian leg of the WRC in September puts it in the middle of football finals.
He said the rally would benefit from 'clear air'.
"In terms of publicity and attention for spectators, if it were in November, it would be far less difficult than September when there's a lot of sport on in Australia," he said.