Triple champion start to rally season

This weekend’s opening round of the Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship line-up includes three overall champions.

The first of six rounds in the 2008 competition starts with the Trusthouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa (12-13 April).  A two-day event covering fifteen speed tests through the Wairarapa and Tararua regions, it includes a larger than usual field placing for championship honours.

Heading the entries, defending champion Sam Murray (Palmerston North) plans a return in his 2006 Subaru Impreza.  Joining Murray’s 2008 effort will be UK based co-driver Andrew Roughead – commuting between the hemispheres during the six-month season.

Previous champion Richard Mason (Masterton) has not only a new Subaru Impreza for the series, but a wife too.  Having recently married co-driver Sara, the Mason pairing start their domestic championship with a weekend at home.

Returning for the full championship, 2004 title holder Chris West (Christchurch) has switched to Mitsubishi with support from Donnithorne Simms.  Returning as co-driver, Garry Cowan says all being from Christchurch should assist their campaign: “Makes it good I think.  We’re in the zone (and) ready for an assault with one goal in mind, all going well.  But it’s going to be tight – any one of those top-ten are in for the win.  Just one spin and you’ll be from first to fifth – and that’s great.  It makes it interesting, so who knows maybe the Aussies will come here and play – it’s not a silly idea really.  The more the merrier.”

The two day season opener is treated as two separate competitions within the one event.  Points are allocated on teams’ finishing position at the end of each day.  Bonus points are also on offer for the top-three championship finishers overall.

Additional support for New Zealand’s top-tier of rally competition has extended television coverage of each event.  Two hour-long shows will follow each round – highlighting the on-event action as well as showcasing the depth of team involvement.

Competition categories include the Group N 4WD, Group N 2WD and Kiwi-2 plus the ever popular yester-year classics.

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.

Tested for the coming season of rally championship competition, Masterton's Brett Martin well acclimatised to the Wairarapa dry. 
Photo: Lance Hastie

Fast facts:

• 31 entries have been confirmed for the season.
• 15 cars will contest the Group N 4WD, which includes the overall Goldstar title.
• 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

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