By BOB PEARCE
Rally New Zealand will have a boost of $1 million a year for each of the next three years from Propecia, which is its new naming sponsor.
Pharmaceutical giant Merck Sharp and Dohme stepped in at the last minute last year as naming sponsor after the world championship event had struggled along without a major sponsor.
Sky City had pledged three years of support, but the casino operator surrendered the naming rights to allow Merck Sharp and Dohme to continue promotion of its hair-loss medicine.
Merck Sharp and Dohme managing director Alister Brown said his company had been delighted by last year's sponsorship.
He said the increased commitment would be a combination of advertising and sponsorship.
Last year's Rally New Zealand, won by eventual world champion Marcus Gronholm, was voted third-best in the 14-round championship behind Finland and Australia.
This year it has shifted from a July event to September 20-23, when the championship contenders will be desperate for points.
All the big works teams are expected, most with three cars.
The rally will follow much the same route as last year, with one significant change.
During the Saturday stage, when competition will be north of Auckland, the service area will be at Ruawai instead of Maungaturoto.
The organisers plan to divert traffic from State Highway 12 and use the main street as the service area. Access would be only for rally cars and residents.
Rally headquarters will again be Sky City.
There will be a formal start at Aotea Square on the evening of September 20 and the finish will be at the Manukau Sports Bowl on the afternoon of September 23.
The super-special, alongside the Manukau shopping centre, will be used for the last time. A new venue for future events is being sought near the airport.
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