The China Rally, which is the final round of the 2008 Intercontinental Rally Challenge and also a round of the Chinese Rally Championship, will change its date and location for this year.

The event will now take place from 5-7 December in Shaowu. Previously, the rally was scheduled for 7-9 November in Longyou.

Shaowu is located in the northwest of Fujian province, in the south-eastern part of China. Fuzhou harbour is 300 kilometres away and Wuyishan international airport is just 70 kilometres away, making it a well-placed transport hub in southern China. There are also good road and rail connections.

The draft itinerary and regulations will be published in the following days. These changes do not affect China Rally’s status as a points-scoring round of the IRC.

The Intercontinental Rally Challenge is a 10-round rally series authorized by the FIA, which features five registered manufacturers. Eurosport – which is Europe’s biggest television channel – provides extensive and innovative coverage from every round.

Remaining events in the 2008 IRC season:
• 12-13 September Spain Principe de Asturias Rally (asphalt)
• 25 -27 September Italy Rally Sanremo (asphalt)
• 24-25 October Switzerland Rally du Valais (asphalt)
• 5-7 December China China Rally (gravel)