Rally Championship to open in the north

Opening the 2008 Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship, the country’s top-tier of competition start their season near Masterton in mid-April.

The first of six rounds on the 2008 calendar, a strong subscription to the championship promises six months of duelling between competitors in their respective classes.

Split in to three categories, the 32-strong field is headlined by the overall Goldstar crown and Group N production based Subaru versus Mitsubishi battle.

Kiwi 2 and Group N 2WD also includes the Ford Fiesta competition, with currently three entries running at the first event.  Also new to the series will be the Nissan Micra of Auckland based rally legend Reg Cook.

Promised since his return to the championship in 2005, the Micra is very much an unknown compared to the previously dominant Honda’s.

Reliving yesteryear, the Classic category has grown sizeably with the famed Ford Escort BDA making its return after Mazda’s domination of the past two seasons.

For the season opener, the Trusthouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa moves calendar dates to April, although keeps its traditional two-day format.

Gripped by the same drought that has afflicted much of the lower North Island this past summer, the roads in the Wairarapa and Tararua regions are drier and dustier than normal.  Recent rain has helped the situation, but the hard base will help provide a consistent surface for competitors to test their skill on.

Starting with a car display and autograph signing session at Masterton’s Genesis Energy Centre from 6pm on the Friday evening, the cars are flagged away at a ceremonial start from 7pm.

Covering fifteen stages totalling 255km of competition over the Saturday and Sunday, the event returns for a champagne finish at the Copthorne Solway Park from 3:30pm in the afternoon.

 

Ends.

 

Fast facts:

• 32 entries have been confirmed for the season.
• 16 cars will contest the Group N 4WD, which includes the overall Goldstar title.
• Defending champion Sam Murray (Palmerston North) heads the entry list.
• A traditional Subaru versus Mitsubishi contest for overall honours.
• The Group N 4WD category is contested internationally – putting our kiwi drivers on an even keel with off-shore counterparts.
• Contested over six rounds (four in the North Island, two in the South Island).
• A six month competition (starts in April, concludes late September).
• Includes two international events (NAC Hella International Rally of Whangarei – part of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship and Rally New Zealand – part of the World Rally Championship).
• Nine competitors are registered for the Classic category, including three Ford Escort’s, two Mazda’s, one Mitsubishi, one Toyota and one Nissan.
• Opening round is the Trusthouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa (12-13 April).
• The Wairarapa event is contested over fifteen stages totalling 255km of competition and 333km of touring (between tests).
• All championship cars must run on commercially available service station fuel (except for the two international category events for cars that are eligible).
• The championship will also include a hybrid entry car expected later in the season.

For more information:

About the event: www.rallywairarapa.co.nz

About the championship: www.motorsport.org.nz/Rally

 

VANTAGE ALUMINIUM JOINERY 2008 NEW ZEALAND RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
Championship entry list:

Group - N 4WD
DRIVER	Hometown	CO-DRIVER	Hometown	CAR	SPONSORS	TEAM
Kirsty Nelson	Whangarei	Michele Brunt	Cambridge	Subaru WRX	Super Charge Batteries, N.A.C Insurance, L.J. Hooker, Imperial Panelbeaters	Nelson Motorsport
Dean Sumner	Rotorua	Paul Fallon	Taupo	Mitsubishi EVO 9	ITM, Gib, Marley, Dunlop, Makita, Wattyl	The ITM Rally Team
Richard Mason	Masterton	Sara Mason	Masterton	Subaru Impreza	BNT, Dunlop, Porirua Motor Body Repairs	Richard Mason Motorsport
Chris West	Christchurch	Garry Cowan	Christchurch	Mitsubishi EVO 9	Andrew Simms Mitsubishi, Castrol, Ralliart, Yokahama	Neil Allport
Nathan Thomas	Wellington	Richard Kelly	Wellington	Mitsubishi EVO 7	Weltec, Actrix Internet, Online Communications, Team Talk, Ups Power Solutions, Racetech, Business Knowledge	Wilford Motorsport
Sloan Cox	Rotorua	Tarryn Cox	Rotorua	Mitsubishi EVO 8
Andre Meier	Cambridge	Jason Farmer	Huntly	Subaru Impreza	Spy Optics, Winger Subaru, Subaroo Auto Spares, Aerosport Avation	Meier Sport Racing
Hayden Paddon	South Canterbury	John Kennard	Blenheim	Mitsubishi EVO 9	Paddon Direct, Willet Sitrex, Vogal, BF Goodrich Tyres, ACL Automotive Components	Paddon Direct Team Green
Emma Gilmour	Dunedin	Jeff Judd	Christchurch	Subaru Impreza WRX	Vantage Aluminium Joinery, Subaru, Metalman, Pirelli, Castrol, Wurth
Callum McInnes	Tauranga	David Calder	Christchurch	Subaru Impreza WRX	Milkbar, Calf Rearing Systems	Milk Bar Rally Team
Mark Tapper	Auckland	Jeff Cress	Auckland	Mitsubishi EVO 9	Rally Drive NZ, Latham Construction, Amberley Manufacturing, WINZ	Rally Drive NZ
Brett Martin	Masterton	Grant Marra	Christchurch	Mitsubishi EVO 9	TBA	Martin Motorsport
Stewart Taylor	Havelock North	Warwick Searle	Gisborne	Mitsubishi EVO 9	Total Oil, Steelbro Containers Handling, Tomoana Warehousing ltd	Taylor Motorsport Ltd
Grant Barber	Foxton	Bede O'Connor	Westport	TBA	TBA	TBA
Brad Ayling	Inglewood	Malcolm Read	Hamilton
Sam Murray	Palmerston North	Andrew Roughead	Northumberland	Subaru Impreza WRX	Fram, Radio Sport	Rallyfanz
Kiwi 2
Ben Jagger	Whangarei	Ben Hawkins	Whangarei	Ford Fiesta ST	Speedy Signs Whangarei	Ben Jagger Motorsport
Reg Cook	Auckland	Louise Cook	Palmerston North	Nissan Micra	CMR, Challenge Clevedon	Cook Motor Racing
Chris Lange	Invercargill	Mal Peden	Mt Maunganui	Ford Feista STi50	The Lab, McLaulay Ford, A1 K Trucks	Chris Lange Motorsport
Dave Strong	Auckland	Bruce McKenzie	Paeroa	Honda Civic Type R	Strong Honda, Dalian Forklifts, Motul Oil	Dave Strong Motorsport
Aaron Cook	Titahi Bay, Wellington	Jayson Stringer	Hamilton	Honda Jazz		Cook Motorsport
Sean Gray	Christchurch	Julie Morris	Christchurch	Mitsubishi Mirage	Sean & Julie	Atomrally Team
Patrick Malley	Auckland	Raymond Bennett	Palmerston North	Ford Feista	Onyx Capital, New Zealand Truth, Racetech Seats, Havelock North Tyre & Alignment	M Rally Team
Cheyne Booth	Hunua	TBA		Suzuki Ingis Sport	TBA	Booth Page Motorsport
Classic
Rob Wylie	Auckland	Paul Turner	Auckland	Nissan 240 RS	Boat Haulage Ltd, Liner Plants	Team 240 RS
Doug Breden	Wellington	Jason Robb	Whangarei	Ford Escort MK2	Hutt City Autoworld
Mike Cameron	Stratford	Helen Cameron	Stratford	Mitsubishi Lancer	The Farm, Greg Dietschin Motors Hawera	Team Cameron
Bert Murray	Palmerston North	Stu Jenkinson	Palmerston North	Mazda RX7	Mainfreight, Castrol/BP, Dunlop	Mainfreight BP Rally Team
Euan Fuge	Feilding	Mike Gibbs	Taumarunui	Mazda RX3	E.M Fuge Contracting	TBA
Keith Frankum	Hastings	Donna Elder	Havelock North	Toyota Sprinter AE86	Keith Frankum
Andrew Keighley	Auckland	Jonathan Kane	Auckland	Ford Escort	Commercial Refrigeration, Valvoline Oils, Frank Allen Tyres Takanini	Commericial Refrigeration
Deborah Kibble	Wellington			Mitsubishi Lancer	Mainfreight, Castrol, Tomoana Warehousing	Mainfreight Rally Team
Greg Poole

VANTAGE ALUMINIUM JOINERY 2008 NEW ZEALAND RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

1.	12-13 April	Rally Wairarapa
2.	10-11 May	Rally Otago
3.	07-08 June	Rally of Whangarei *
4.	26-27 July	Rally of Hawke’s Bay
5.	28-31 August	Rally New Zealand **
6.	20-21 September	Rally Nelson

* 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