Attention sporting editor - for immediate release Monday 5th 2008.
Media release: Round #2 of the Vantage Aluminium Joinery 2008 New Zealand Rally Championship, on behalf of The Motorsport Company
Due south for rally championship
This weekend’s second round of the 2008 Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship heads in to the wintry depths of Otago for the Scenic Circle Southern Cross Hotel Rally of Otago (10-11 May).
The first of two South Island events on the rally championship calendar, a recent southerly front has ended a long spell of temperate weather around the weekend base of Dunedin.
“It’s turned a bit feral on us,” described Clerk of the Course for the rally, Norman Oakley. “It’s been raining, there is snow on the hills – it’s a bit like it was a year ago.”
Although he warns not to expect any one season for the weekend: “It would be unusual to have snow on the roads but who knows, it could be anything.”
Regarded as a technical event due its region specific crests and brows it covers 13 special stages over the two days using roads to the south, north and west of the shipping port.
While all three championship categories will be contested over the two days, the classic component will be incorporated in to the separately run ‘Dunlop Classic International Rally of Otago’.
With 13 four-wheel drive and seven two-wheel drive championship cars expected to start the main event, the seven contesting the Classic category trail shortly after – following the same route.
Following Friday’s ceremonial start, the cars depart from outside the Southern Cross Hotel from 8am on the Saturday, completing six stages to the south of Dunedin. The day concludes with a 2.15km sprint through part of Dunedin’s industrial area.
Resuming on the Sunday from 7:15am, five stages to the south and north of Dunedin bring the teams to the Whare Flat forest west of the city for a final 13km test. The remaining cars then return for a 2:30pm champagne finish in the Octagon.
Auckland's Rob Wylie will again steer the large Nissan 240RS through the second round of the 2008 Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship to be held in Otago this weekend.
Photo: Euan Cameron
Ends.
Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship
Goldstar driver championship - points: after round one (top-ten)
1. R Mason (Masterton) 62
2. S Taylor (Hastings) 48
3. H Paddon (Geraldine) 44
4. M Tapper (Auckland) 41
5 C West (Christchurch) 40
6 B Martin (Masterton) 37
7 C McInnes (Tauranga) 34
8 S Cox (Rotorua) 24
9 A Meier (Cambridge) 23
10 G Barber (Foxton) 22
For more information:
For full ponts: http://www.motorsport.org.nz/Rally/nzrc/points.htm
About the event: www.otagorally.net
www.motorsport.org.nz/Rally or www.vantage.co.nz
Fast facts:
- Event title: 2008 SCENIC CIRCLE Southern Cross Hotel RALLY OF OTAGO
- Second round (of six) in the 2008 Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship.
- A two-day event using a mixture of forestry and country roads around Dunedin.
- Covers 258.79km of completion over 13 special stages (seven on the Saturday, six on the Sunday).
- Features a 2.15km tarmac Super Stage through a section of Dunedin’s industrial area.
- Starts with a car show and display at the Edgar Centre on the Friday evening (9th May).
- First car departs the Southern Cross Hotel (Dunedin Casino) at 8am on the Saturday morning (10th May).
- The rally is divided with the 21 modern cars leading the 50 car classic field (of which seven are in the national series).
- Finish ceremony will be held at Dunedin’s Octagon from 2:30pm on the Sunday afternoon (11th May).
- Television coverage TV One Powerbuilt Tools Motorsport: Rally of Otago - Day one 18th May, Day two 25th May
-
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 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
