Rally New Zealand has been handed a lifeline in its bid to stay in the World Rally Championship.

The Government is pouring in $250,000 to help promote the May event overseas, in a bid to convince the promoters and governing body the FIA to keep the event on the world circuit next year. New Zealand is off the provisional calendar for 2011, which will be ratified at an FIA meeting next month.

Rally NZ chairman Chris Carr says they have to make the most of the opportunity. He says they will use the funds to get more international television exposure.

"(We'll) apply that to making this years event a better event, to make it a whole lot harder for anybody to consider going anywhere else."

Minister of Economic Development Gerry Brownlee says the $250,000 comes from the ministry's major events development fund. He says the rally does do a great job of showcasing the country overseas.