THE Coffs Coast will become a mecca of motorsport this weekend.

The region will play host to the Supercheap Auto Coffs Coast Rally over three big days of racing starting this Friday.

Asia Pacific and Australian champions will be crowned in Coffs Harbour this weekend, as two championships come to a close at the Supercheap Auto Coffs Coast Rally.

The Supercheap Auto Coffs Coast Rally is the final round of the RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship (ARC), as well as the finale of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC).

The Motorsport Australia NSW Rally Championship is also holding its season finale in Coffs Harbour this weekend.

A free Rally Show will launch this year’s event from 5.30pm on Friday at the Ce.x Coffs International Stadium.

A capacity field of 70 cars will contest this weekend’s Supercheap Auto Coffs Coast Rally, with a field of 33 entries making up the national and international elements of the entry list.

A further 37 cars will compete in the state component, including the Motorsport Australia NSW Rally Championship and East Coast Classic Rally Series, along with the NSW Clubman Rally Series and NSW Hyundai Rally Series.

Director of Motorsport and Commercial Operations, Motorsport Australia, Michael Smith said the 70-car entry list highlighted the strong interest in this year’s event.

“The roads around the Coffs Harbour region are some of the very best rally roads in the country and have plenty of history, previously hosting a number of landmark events, including Rally Australia,” Smith said.

“The Supercheap Auto Coffs Coast Rally will see an international rally return to the region through the APRC, as well as one of the closest Australian title fights in recent years between some of the best drivers in the country in the RSEA Safety Motorsport Australia Rally Championship.

“Already we’ve seen a really strong level of spectator interest, with the free tickets flying out the door, so we expect a big attendance across the weekend, beginning with the free Rally Show at the C.ex International Stadium on Friday evening.”

By Aiden BURGESS