Canberra rally officials hope a shock return to the international circuit will help them secure regular events as they prepare to fast-track planning for the Asia Pacific Rally Championship.
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The Brindabella Motorsport Club will host a leg of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship for the first time in almost a decade after being given less than a week's notice to take control of the round.
Race organisers withdrew its bid for rights to host the race in 2008 after failing to secure ACT government support.
But the cancellation of Queensland's event opened the door for the capital to make its return and the Brindabella Motorsport Club jumped at the opportunity.
It involves changing the schedule of the National Capital Rally by five months and moving it from October to May.
It gives officials less than 100 days to plan the event but the club has thrown all of its resources into preparation and the chance to take advantage of a global audience of 3 million.
"We're hoping that going back on to the international stage and showing Canberra roads as some of the best in Australia and the world," said Brindabella club secretary Ellie Yates.
"Hopefully that means we can keep ourselves on the international stage and we'll be able to look at what other international motorsport events we can bring to Canberra."
The rally will be on May 26-28 at the Cotter and Kowen Forest with up to 80 drivers and 10,000 spectators expected to watch the free event.
The government offered financial support to the National Capital Rally last year to improve spectator experiences and that will continue this year.
The Brindabella Motorsport Club will also use the event to pay tribute to former ACT rally organiser, Mike Bell, who died two years ago.
The Asia-Pacific Rally Championship was in Canberra from 1999 to 2008 under Bell's management
"The event returning to Canberra is the culmination of several years of work with the community to grow the event with increased competitor numbers and spectators," said Brindabella president Martin Holberton.
"It is important to pay tribute to Mike Bell, who provided great leadership and development to the club which brought us a round of the FIA Asia-Pacific Championship round in the first place."
