The final round of the MSA British Rally Championship, which will take place on October 17/18, has changed names, from Rallye Sunseeker to Rallye Dorset.
The event, organised by the Southern Car Club, has had title sponsorship from luxury yacht manufacturer Sunseeker since 1999.
The company has now decided to invest in new marketing areas though, with the new Rallye Dorset name coming after a tie-up with local tourism partners.
The 2013 running of the event, won by Osian Pryce in his Citroen DS3 R3, picked up the silver awards in Tourism Event of the Year category at last year’s Dorset Tourism Awards.
“The name change has been made in consultation with local tourism partners, reflecting the contribution the rally makes to the county,” said event director Rick Smith.
“I think I speak not only for Southern Car Club, but also for rally sport in the UK when I say how much the Sunseeker name has become synonymous with excellence in organisation and the promotion of our sport.
“We are grateful for the support and investment provided by them over the years which enabled us to build a rally ranking alongside the best, not only in the UK but in Europe.”
The event organisers have also been working with Bournemouth University, who are producing independent research into the economic benefits that the rally brings to the regional economy.
