RallySport Magazine April 2017

FEATURE: FORCE MOTORSPORT
who does all our drawings. Basically we
come up with the idea of what we think
the design should be, the guy draws it
and then we’ve got another guy that
does the machining. We’ve got two CNC
mills and two CNC lathes that we have
access to.
“I think for anybody now, it doesn’t
matter if you’re in a barn in the country
or a factory in the city, as long as
you’ve got an internet connection you
can have pretty much anything made
anywhere in the world.”
For Hawkeswood, it was a huge boost
to the project when Hayden Paddon
tested his Hyundai in March 2016
before Otago, claiming the car was
very predictable and easy to drive. The
success also shows in the adaptability
of the platform, with nine different
makes of car all fitting themselves
across the jig to date (currently Mazda,
Holden, Toyota, Hyundai, Skoda,
Mitsubishi, Mini, Audi, and soon to be,
Ford).
“At that initial test day a week before
Otago, Hayden told us it was neutral
and very tuneable, which is a great
platform to start with. That was a huge
boost to the whole team to know we
were on the right track with the cars.
“We could’ve gone down the R5 route,
but we would end up with effectively
a two-make championship again with
Ford and Skoda and everyone would
have to buy bits from the other side of
the world.
“In New Zealand, we are a relatively
small market for manufacturers, so we
don’t get the big works budgets, but
there is local importer and distributor
budgets. Giving them a car they can
identify with has really got them
excited about supporting New Zealand
12 | RALLYSPORT MAGAZINE - APRIL 2017
“Hayden told us it
was neutral and very
tuneable. That was
a huge boost to the
whole team to know we
were on the right track
with the cars.”
rallying.”
Also pleasing for Hawkeswood is the
fact that both Motorsport New Zealand
and Land Transport NZ’s low volume
department have been working closely
with Force Motorsport on the project.
“Motorsport New Zealand are right
behind us. Outside of our option and
what Emma Gilmour has done with
the Maxi car, there isn’t really another
option at the moment.
“We’ve got a pretty comprehensive kit
including the front and rear subframes,
the strut towers, the bottom arms,
the uprights, the top hats, the axles
and CVs, the steering components.
Motorsport New Zealand are due to
publish the full list of AP4 components
and finalised regulations shortly.
“We’re working closely with LVV
NZ to get a Type Certification on our
components, which will make getting
the low volume certification a lot
easier.”
One of the user-friendly parts of the
AP4 concept from the Force Motorsport
stable is that teams have the option of
delivering a stripped-out shell that will
have the appropriate pick up points
inserted into the body, right through
to delivering a road-going small
hatchback and picking up a turn-key,
fire-breathing rally car.
“We’re still trying to feel our way
with what works. Obviously each team
has different needs. Really we can do
anything from supplying a shell with
the pick-up points, tunnels etc. and
ready for a roll cage is one option, or a
complete rolling shell and everything
ready to go to paint is another option.
“We can do a complete turn-key build
as well, although a lot of teams like to
finish their own cars off.”
Outside of the local market, there
has been a lot of inquiry from not just
Australia, but several Asian countries
and beyond. However, at this stage,
only one car has left New Zealand’s
shores.
“In Australia we’ve got Eli Evans’
Mini which we built the rolling shell
for. There’s a few people in Australia
making noises about it.
“It’s a shame the Mini couldn’t be at
the first round, but that was nothing to
do with the gear or work we supplied to
them. But there is definitely enquiry, I’m
not too phased, I’m not looking for work
really, as we’ve got plenty to do.”