RallySport Magazine October 2016

NEWS@RALLYSPORTMAG.COM.AU
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NZ news
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By BLAIR BARTELS
After running four cars this season (Mazda
RX-3, Mitsubishi Evo 10, Suzuki Swift and VW
Polo proto), Andy Martin will settle into the VW
Polo Proto car campaigned for the past season
and a half by Shannon Chambers. Martin had his
first run in the car at Waitomo Rally, coming home
second.
Darren Galbraith is another with a new car for
2017. After sitting out most of the 2016 season
to formulate a plan, Galbraith has purchased the
ex-Neil Marshall, Glenn Smith Mitsubishi Evo 8, a
multiple rally winning car.
While most drivers are confirming their new
cars, David Holder is currently looking for
an opportunity to defend his NZRC title after the
Stadium Finance Mitsubishi was sold to Timaru
driver Keith Anderson.
Marcus van Klink’s new Mazda RX-8 will make
its debut on tarmac at Targa NZ, before
running in the open two-wheel drive class of the
NZRC in 2017. It is expected the Cantabrian will
still use his RX-7 to contest the season opening
Otago Classic Rally.
Ben Hunt was forced to service for his father at
the recent Waitomo Rally after coming off his
dirt bike and injuring his knee a few weeks back. It
is the second time Hunt has had to hand the reins
to his father, Richard (pictured below), for an end
of season hit out. Two years ago a go-kart crash
with none other than John Kennard left the 2015
national champion with a broken foot.
12 | RALLYSPORT MAGAZINE - OCTOBER 2016
Photo: Geoff Ridder
Kennards Hire Rally Australia
will be the closing
round of the FIA World
Rally Championship on the New
South Wales Coffs Coast again in
2017.
The rally was confirmed as
part of the 2017 calendar by
the Federation Internationale
de l’Automobile (FIA) world
motorsport governing body
in Paris, although the date –
along with those for up to six
other WRC rounds – is yet to be
confirmed.
Rally Australia Chairman Ben
Rainsford said the event would be
the closing round of the season
and it was hoped it would be on
16-19 November.
“We’re delighted the WRC has
retained Rally Australia for 2017.
This will be our 25 th WRC event
and the sixth on the Coffs Coast,”
Mr Rainsford said.
“The rally is secured by strong
government, corporate and
community support and delivers
substantial economic benefit
to the Coffs Coast region. For
our spectators and competitors,
it’s an incomparable World
Championship experience.”
The FIA’s World Motor Sport
Council announced dates for
the first seven rounds starting
with the historic Rallye Monte-
Carlo on 20-22 January, just nine
weeks after Kennards Hire Rally
Australia concludes the 2016
season on 17-20 November.
Monte-Carlo, Sweden, Mexico,
Argentina, Portugal and Italy have
been given 2017 dates similar to
this season’s, but France moves
forward from late September to
become round four in early April.
Rally Australia, which will
continue to be supported by the
government tourism and major
events agency Destination New
South Wales, and four other
rounds – Finland, Germany,
Spain and Great Britain – were
confirmed on the calendar
without their dates being
finalised.
The confirmed events total 12,
but the official website WRC.com
reports it has not been clarified
whether the complete 2017
season will be set at 13 or 14
rounds. The FIA has nominated
China, Turkey and Poland as
candidates for the one or two
remaining slots.
The FIA said the final calendar
would be presented at the World
Motor Sport Council meeting on
30 November.