Big dry for rally championship

This coming weekend is hoping to be a drought breaker as the Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship heads for the Trusthouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa (12-13 April).

The region’s dry summer and drier autumn will offer a tough first-up test for the three-category rally championship field.  With rain continually predicted, the lifeblood of the farming community would provide a two-fold respite.  Aside from promoting grass growth, abating dust along the 255km competitive route will be a major factor in levelling potential for visibility concerns.

Following the leading pace at the front of the field, subsequent competitors will be advantaged by the hard road base providing a better level of grip for the specially designed tyres.

Adding to the ferocity of competition, the Subaru versus Mitsubishi battle will be supplemented by the injection of rookie entries.  Taranaki’s Brad Ayling and Cambridge based Andre Meir will balance the Subaru numbers with Rotorua 16-year old Sloan Cox in a Mitsubishi now age eligible for a full championship season.

Also to Subaru’s line-up will be the return of 18-year old Northland teen Kirsty Nelson, Rotorua based Emma Gilmour, Tauranga’s Callum McInnes and Foxton farmer Grant Barber.

Geraldine's Hayden Paddon is again expected to be in the front-running pack for this year's national series.
Photo: Euan Cameron

Topping the Mitsubishi charge, 2007 runner-up Hayden Paddon of Geraldine will again be joined by Rotorua’s Dean Sumner and now Masterton based Brett Martin.  Returning; Christchurch’s Chris West and Auckland’s Mark Tapper will be hounded by Hastings driver Stewart Taylor and Wellington’s Nathan Thomas.

Two-wheel drive action will again be a hot contest of technology with the late model Group N and Kiwi-2 cars often eclipsed by the classic Group B Mazda RX7 of Palmerston North’s Bert Murray.

Returning for his third season, the classic category competitor has eight other challengers – including Australia’s Greg Poole in one of three Ford Escort BDA’s.

Reinforcing Ford’s presence; three world-category Fiesta’s return for their second season of New Zealand competition.  Invercargill’s Chris Lange will head talented Northlander Ben Jagger and two-wheel drive convert Patrick Malley.  Kiwi-2 champion Dave Strong returns in his Honda Civic to be challenged by Kapiti’s former champion Aaron Cook in the ex-Strong Honda Jazz.  Christchurch’s Sean Gray ends his hiatus from four-wheel drive competition with a new campaign aboard a Mitsubishi Mirage.

The first event of six on the championship calendar starts with a car display and autograph signing session at Masterton’s Genesis Energy Centre from 6pm on the Friday evening.  The cars are then 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:

• 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