US rally series seeks FIA 'zone' status
This weekend's International Wild West Pro Rally in Olympia, WA, which will start the second half of the 2003 Rally Series of North America, will be observed by the FIA with a view to granting the series 'zone' championship status in 2004. FIA Rallies Commission president Shekhar Mehta said: "The FIA fully supports the regional rally championships and having a sanctioned championship in North America is high on our list of priorities."
"The organisers of the Rally Series of North America are working hard towards securing this status and progress is good, although a little slower than we had hoped. They have been very mindful of the standards that need to be achieved, such is the mounting pressure on all rally organisers worldwide.
"The North American market presents huge opportunities, but entering this region is a lengthier process due to the sport still not having the profile that rallying in Europe, for example, has enjoyed over nearly 30 years. Corona Rally Mexico has made great progress in this area, and its impact on the sport in North America will be very positive."
The International Wild West Pro Rally is a qualifying round of the Rally Series of North America and the SCCA Pro Rally series.
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