RallySport Magazine September 2016

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NZ news
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Photo:
Geoff
Ridder
By BLAIR BARTELS
2017 sees the return of Rally New Zealand as
organisers look to put together a candidate
WRC event. The two-day event will run out of
the East Coast city of Tauranga, the base for the
proposed 2018 WRC round. Teams will also be
competing for the Rally New Zealand trophy,
which was first presented in 1969 and was last
won in 2012, by Sebastien Loeb.
Four time NZRC historic champion, Marcus
van Klink, will step away from the class next
year and move into the open two-wheel drive
class with a freshly built Mazda RX-8. The new
car features a 20B triple rotor engine, six speed
sequential gearbox and MCA suspension, all
wrapped in a large amount of carbon fibre.
For new New Zealand Rally Champion, David
Holder (pictured below), the Mahindra
Goldrush Rally Coromandel ended an astounding
run. It was the first event of his career he had
finished without standing on the podium.
Rally Coromandel saw record crowds out
spectating on the day, with several spectators
getting to some of the more remote spots via
helicopter in a service put together by regular
competitor, Shannon Chambers, who missed the
event after selling his VW Polo.
Rally Coromandel also saw the final round of the
new Group A Challenge, which was taken out
by Matt Adams, son of former national champion
Paul. Not only was Paul on hand to see the win,
but Matt’s grandfather and children were also
on event, completing a four generation support
team. Second place went to Simon Bell, with third
going to Phil Collins.
New special stages with
excellent viewing choices,
worldwide live television
coverage, greater local support
and a more open fight for the FIA
World Rally Championship look
set to make the 2016 Kennards
Hire Rally Australia the best in the
event’s 25-year history.
The event on the New
South Wales Coffs Coast from
November 17-20 will welcome
top manufacturer teams from
Europe and the best competitors
from around Australia to tackle a
315 kilometre course comprising
23 special stages designed to
challenge the world’s fastest rally
drivers.
Chairman Ben Rainsford said
everything was set for another
successful event.
“Every year since we came
to the Coffs Coast in 2011,
Rally Australia has grown in
popularity, partner support and
organisational and presentation
standards. Last year, it generated
a $14.3 million boost to the
regional economy,” Mr Rainsford
said.
“Our new Destination NSW
Super Special Stage – at the Jetty
precinct literally alongside Coffs
Harbour – other special stage
enhancements including the
exciting Flooded Gum spectator
point on the final stage, and truly
spectacular opening and closing
ceremonies will all be highlights
for our ticket holders.
“WRC TV’s live coverage of the
Friday Jetty super special and two
passes through Wedding Bells on
Sunday, plus its daily wrap shows
and news feeds, will showcase the
region to a massive audience.”
While most of the competition
roads to the north and south
of the Coffs Harbour base are
unchanged from 2015, organisers
have added a second Super
Special Stage at Raleigh, a 1.37km
sprint at a multi-motorsports
facility 20km south of Coffs
Harbour on the Pacific Highway.
Adult tickets to the Raleight
stage will be just $10 and sold
only at the gate.
At nine spectator points across
the course, event ticket holders
will see stunning up-close action
from the world’s fastest rally
drivers.
Two-for-one spectator deal
Kennards Hire Rally Australia are offering a fantastic “buy one,
get one free” deal for tickets to the Super Special Stage of the World
Rally Championship round in November.
The exciting new stage will be held on the Coffs Harbour
foreshore on the Friday and Saturday night of the event, featuring
the WRC’s biggest stars, including Sebastien Ogier, Jari-Matti Latvala
and Hayden Paddon.
Tickets are just $30 per person, with a bonus ticket thrown in free
of charge. The offer is available from now until November 1, with
tickets available from www.ticketek.com.au
Photo: Geoff Ridder
12 | RALLYSPORT MAGAZINE - SEPTEMBER 2016