September move for Rally Great Britain?

The event, which has been held in November since 1959, could move to a date two months earlier as soon as next year. It would ensure more daylight hours for the rally and would create more scope for better, and warmer, weather. The downside, however, being it would lose its status as the final round of the World Championship.

"I've heard the rumours," said a spokesman for the MSA, the sport's governing body in Britain. "But I am unable to confirm or deny them."

Three-time event winner Richard Burns is fully in favour of the planned move. He said: "It wouldn't take anything away from the event. It's a good idea, because then we'd finish in Australia. Hopefully there won't be so much water on the rallysprint track, but there would still be slime and foul weather."

Ford's Carlos Sainz, himself a double winner of the British round of the World Championship, said: "I think it may be a good idea. I think it's a very difficult rally, not only for us, but for the public to follow."

Next year's event has already been scheduled for November 23-25, so any move on the calendar is more likely to happen in 2002. If it does occur next year, though, a decision could be made by the FIA World Council as early as this Thursday.