Knoxville, TN -- Round four of the 2005 Eastern States Rally Championship (ESRC) promises a dramatic turn for the sport of stage rallying in the United States when the country’s first true all tarmac stage rally, Rally Tennessee, is run outside of Nashville, Tennessee on September 3-4, 2005.

Stage rallying in the US has been a near all gravel sport since its inception in the early 1970s, and has never seen all tarmac event outside of a closed venue. Rally Tennessee opens up to North American competitors and spectators what has been a known quantity in Europe for the last 50 years. A two-day event, Rally Tennessee will bring some of the best names in US rally to compete over 112 miles of closed county roads in Perry County, Tennessee.

Championship and event promoter John K. Shirley is excited about the event. "This is part of the new beginning for the sport in the US and the fans will get a real show as the competitors learn the ropes of tarmac rallies, especially tire choice, suspension setup and brake cooling," he commented. ESRC Series Coordinator Dr. Kendall Russell of Rally Promotions, LLC, also gave the event high praise, "With more spectator venues then have ever been available before at a stage rally in the US, the fans are going to see real cars on real roads competing for the crown of 'best on the asphalt' when the ESRC once again provides some of the best competition seen on this side of the Atlantic."

Richard Spicer, Chairman of the Event followed, "We’re looking forward to showing off Perry County, the Town of Linden, and the State of Tennessee to both the fans and the competitors, who we expect to come from all over the east to view what we think is one the most beautiful areas of the country."

The 2005 running of Rally Tennessee is sanctioned by NASA Rally Sport, organized and promoted by Rally Promotions, LLC, and constitutes Round Four of the ESRC. For more information, visit www.rallytennessee.com, www.nasarallysport.com, or contact John K. Shirley of Rally Promotions, LLC at 11102 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37922; Office: (865) 805-0831; E mail: nasarallysport@cs.com.