Media release: Preview #2 of the Vantage Aluminium Joinery 2008 New Zealand Rally Championship, on behalf of The Motorsport Company

Bumper field for rally championship

A bumper field has entered for New Zealand’s 2008 Rally Championship.

The six round Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship starts in the Wairarapa mid-April with already 32 entries vying for championship honours.

Expecting slight number fluctuations during the six month season, the entries are currently evenly split across the three competing categories: Group N 4WD (16), Group N 2WD/Kiwi2 (8) and Classic (8).

While the overall battle will be between brands Subaru and Mitsubishi, the line-up will also include Ford’s Fiesta and a brand new Nissan Micra.

An increase on previous years, championship co-ordinator Laurie Brenssell said he was ‘very excited’ by the quantity and depth of entries received prior to the first round.

Entries include defending champion Sam Murray (Palmerston North), runner-up Hayden Paddon (Geraldine) and former champion Richard Mason (Masterton).

With the finalised entry list now being sorted in to running order, teams and drivers have just over two weeks until the season opening round at the Trusthouse Racetech Rally of Wairarapa (12-13 April).

 
Palmerston North's Sam Murray intends defending his 2007 championship crown secured at the Nelson Rally last year. 
Photo: Euan Cameron 

Ends.

 

NB: The finalised entry list will be published shortly.

VANTAGE ALUMINIUM JOINERY 2008 NEW ZEALAND RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

* FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship

** FIA World Rally Championship

For further information: www.motorsport.org.nz/Rally or www.vantage.co.nz

 

For any enquiries relating to the Vantage Aluminium Joinery 2007 New Zealand Rally Championship, please contact:

Laurie Brenssell

Championship Promotions Co-ordinator

0274 333 667

laurie.b@xtra.co.nz

 

Lance Hastie

Rally Publicist

021 329 909

lance@inspire.net.nz