International test for New Zealand rally talent

This coming weekend’s journey to the far north will be the first international test for the season of drivers in the 2008 Vantage Aluminum Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship – the NAC Insurance Hella International Rally of Whangarei (6-8 June).

Marking the half-way point of the six rounds rally championship season, the Whangarei event boasts an international line-up by virtue of its round in the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship.

Pitted against drivers from other countries, it will be a quality chance for the field to measure themselves against drivers with a broader degree of experience.

While our own have the home-town advantage, last year’s winner Hayden Paddon has a greater challenge on his plate – clawing back some of the points advantage from leader Richard Mason.

With a 29 point lead in the standings heading in to the mid-point of the season, Subaru team Richard and Sara Mason have almost enough to forsake a day of competition in the quest to up the pace and overall honors:  “Normally we like to win the rally – so that’s what we’d want for this event,” said Mason having convincingly won his second round of the season at Otago in mid-May.

Whereas for Paddon and co-driver John Kennard, their brand new Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9 is still undergoing development after their decision to use left-hand drive this season – more common in offshore competition.

“I think Whangarei suits my driving style,” said the 20-year old from Geraldine.  “So onwards and upwards, take another step up and try challenge for the win – that’s always the target.”

Five points behind Paddon is Hastings driver Stewart Taylor in a second Lancer EVO 9, who has a healthy 19 point lead from championship podium contender Chris West.

Including fellow pace setters Dean Sumner, Mark Tapper and Brett Martin, their championship deficit is enough to throw caution to the win and challenge for an outright win.

Of the 17 teams registered to score points for the international permit event, only Group N 4WD, Group N 2WD and Kiwi-2 classes will earn championship reward for the weekend.

Fronting the two-wheel competition, defending champion Dave Strong (Honda Civic) and former champion Aaron Cook (Honda Jazz) have been swapping for the series lead with northlander Ben Jagger leading the Group N 2WD standings.

Included in that field is new entrant Brendan Reeves and co-driving sister Rhianon Smyth from Victoria, Australia in a Kayne Barrie leased Ford Fiesta.

The event will also be the first qualifying round of the Pirelli star driver scheme – that gives the opportunity for a team to win entry to supported World Rally Championship events in a Group N or S2000 car in 2009.

Seven of the championship entrants are eligible and have registered for the opportunity, including recent elite motorsport academy recruit Kirsty Nelson.  As well as Australian Brendan Reeves, Andre Meier, Sloan Cox, Mark Tapper, Hayden Paddon and Patrick Malley will be exercising their ability to chase for a spot on the world stage.

With eleven designated spectator points in total covering most of the rally stages outside Whangarei, motorsport radio commentator Brian Kelly says it’s a great weekend out:

 “…the NAC Insurance Pohe Island super special stage is a perfect way to involve the whole family in rallying.  It’s just a couple of kilometers from the city centre and with the Lions Club family fun day on the Saturday – lots of activities, food stalls, a motocross ‘dash for cash’ and fundraising for Starship Children’s Hospital, the whole Pohe Island venue is going to be filled with action.”

The weekend’s action is preceded by a ‘meet the drivers’ session at Rynoz Bar & Stonegrill in Cameron Street on Wednesday 4th June, 7pm.  From lunchtime Friday 6th June there is a central city street parade before the 4pm driver autograph session and ceremonial start that takes place from the Cameron Street Mall at 5:30pm on the Friday.

Heading in to the two days of competition, there are 15 speed tests made up of repeat loops using 256km of sweeping gravel – many of which were made famous by Rally New Zealand.

Departing from the Quayside town basin at 8am on the Saturday, the crews cover eight stages to the south of Whangarei – returning mid-day for a service break.

Sunday’s remaining seven tests include a mid-morning final run around the NAC Insurance Pohe Island super stage, with the cars returning to Whangarei for a 3pm prizegiving ceremony at the Quayside town basin.

Please visit the website www.rallywhangarei.co.nz for spectator information, stage times and maps.

Ends.

Addendum:

Of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship field contesting the NAC Insurance Hella International Rally of Whangarei, top seed is Australian driver Cody Crocker in the Motor Image Team Subaru. Mentored by Kiwi rally great Possum Bourne for many years, Crocker is aiming to take out the APRC title for the third consecutive season this year, but arrives in Whangarei only third on the 2008 points’ table. Crocker’s co-driver is Ben Atkinson, brother of Chris who competes in the World Rally Championship for Subaru.

At the top of the APRC leader-board currently is another Australian, Dean Herridge, who has had consistent results in the first two rounds – New Caledonia and Canberra – to overtake Japan’s Katsuhiko Taguchi and his well-known Australian co-driver Mark Stacey who won the opening round and now hold second place overall.

Taguchi’s MRF Tyres team-mates include Australian Scott Pedder and India’s Gaurav Gill, who has another well-known Australian co-driver, Glenn Macneall, alongside him. Herridge’s CUSCO Racing team-mates include two other top-class Japanese drivers Hiroshi Yanagisawa and Yuya Sumiyama. The fourth Japanese driver in the field is Takuma Kamada racing for Subaru Team Arai..

Event information:

• Event title: NAC Insurance Hella International Rally of Whangarei.
• Third of six rounds in the 2008 Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship.
• Third of seven rounds in the 2008 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship.
• Is a qualifying round of The Pirelli star driver contest (see website for more details).
• First of two international category events used by the New Zealand championship.
• Only Group N 4WD, Group N 2WD and Kiwi-2 fields will run for championship points.
• Starts with a ceremonial opening at 5:30pm on the Friday evening at Cameron St Mall in Whangarei.
• Uses roads in the Northland and Kaipara District roads from Saturday 7 June to Sunday 8 June.
• Covers 15 gravel stages split over Saturday and Sunday.
• First stage starts at 9:18am on the Saturday.
• Uses roads previously used by Repco Rally New Zealand: Bull, Cassidy, Waipu Caves.
• Includes three runs around the Whangarei Super Special stage at Pohe Island.
• The event was won outright last year by then 19-year old Hayden Paddon of Geraldine.
• 17 teams have entered for the Group N 4WD and 2WD championship round with four in the Kiwi-2 category.
• Includes new championship entry of Brendan Reeves from Australia in a Ford Fiesta.
• Television coverage of the event starts on Sunday 15th June, with the second day shown on Sunday 22nd June.  Features and repeats will also be shown on Fujitsu Motorsport on Sky TV.

Event website: www.rallywhangarei.co.nz