The Otago Rally has been confirmed as part of the new TER World Series, a series aimed at special events in unique locations.
Event spokesman Roger Oakley said it was an evolution of the Tour of Europe Series run for the past few seasons, and 2023 would be a concept season for a worldwide variant.
A European-based television crew would be in Dunedin for the event and would showcase all the region had to offer.
Mr Oakley said for many years it had been working to build the profile of the event.
"To join the TER World Series is exciting, and to increase the worldwide profile for our region and the Otago Rally is fantastic.
"Being part of a series that promotes the love of the sport is what we are all about."
Each event in the trial season of the TER World Series would receive significant television coverage in the form of a 25-minute highlights package which would be beamed around the world.
The Otago Rally will be the opening round of the New Zealand Rally Championship and include the Otago Classic Rally and an Allcomers event.
One to watch will be Dunedin-born Emma Gilmour, who made history as McLaren Racing’s first female racing driver in November 2021.
She said the recent announcements were very exciting for the Otago Rally.
"Becoming part of an international series is brilliant and great reward for the committee’s hard work over many many years."
Mr Oakley said it would be great to have a world-class international back on "our beautiful Otago roads".
"There have been almost 100 teams that have already registered their interest in the event, so we're looking forward to another large field competing."
The Otago Rally had a history of attracting WRC stars to the event, including world champions Bjorn Waldegard, Hannu Mikkola, Juha Kankkunen, Ari Vatanen, Miki Biasion and Didier Auriol, while greats such as Michele Mouton and father and son Jimmy and Alister McRae have also competed in the event.
The 2023 Otago Rally runs from March 31 to April 2.
