The 10-year wait to see the World Rally Championship return to New Zealand will be officially over in less than 48 hours, but how long must New Zealand wait to host another?
Rally NZ officials are confident the event will return in 2023 or 2024, but WRC event director Simon Larkin says a central government contribution is crucial to ensuring that happens.
Returning to the WRC calendar has taken years for Rally NZ boss Michael Goldstein.
"We started this event planning in 2015," said Goldstein.
Larkin was in New Zealand last time we hosted a world championship round in 2012 and he realises how much its return means.
"This is an event with great heritage, with great sporting pedigree," said Larkin. "It's one of those events that all the drivers want to win."
But heritage alone doesn't necessarily make New Zealand a lock for next year's schedule.
"There's still a bit of work to do," Larkin confirmed. "Largely, I think central government probably needs to come to the table a little bit.
"There are conversations going on there which seem to be quite positive."
The government contribution required for the event to be sustainable in the future is in millions.
"There's been a huge amount of effort to get the rally back for this year," said Kiwi driver Hayden Paddon. "I think it would be a shame to not have the work done utilised to have the event here again."
Another factor in New Zealand's favour is the WRC plan to expand from 13 to 14 events next year, with a commitment to holding five outside Europe. This year, just three are scheduled beyond the continent's borders.
"We need to have these events and we need to go back to very much being a world championship," Larkin added.
While there's a good level of confidence Rally NZ's return isn't a one-off, the success of this week's event could go a long way to making sure that's the case.
Rally New Zealand begins at the Auckland Domain on Thursday.
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