While next Saturday’s Taranaki Tarmac Rally will see the North Island Rally Series (NIRS) competitors shift from gravel to the sealed roads around New Plymouth, it will also likely see a number of changes in the eight separate Classes competing for both line and overall titles.
Six of the current Class leaders have elected not to enter this round, including overall leaders Quentin Palmer and Noel Moloney (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo), who have elected to pursue their NZ Rally Championship ambitions in Southland in July.
Palmer has a healthy 26-point lead over Carlin Leong/Nathan Roa (Subaru Impreza), but this won’t be enough margin with 40 points on the line for the first NIRS car home.
His co-driver, Noel Moloney, will be at the Taranaki Tarmac Rally alongside the number one seed Dave Rogers (Mitsi Evo 10), who will lead away the 32-car field.
Blair Richardson/Nikki Sim (Ford Escort Mk1) beat home Class A (2WD:0-1300cc) leader Darryl McManus/Maddy Buhr (Toyota Vitz) at the last round, the Newstead Lodge Rally of Waitomo, and with neither entered, the order will remain.
Without class leader and defending class champions Sam and Mathew Broadbent entering, Class B (2WD 1301-1600cc) will be represented by Andrew Lowe/Ian Barr (Toyota AE101). Sam will be codriving with his dad, Phil Broadbent, in the mighty 2.5-litre Millington-powered Toyota Starlet.
Khalid Mason/Sara Mason (Ford Fiesta ST150) could extend their lead in Class C (1601-2000cc 2WD), while Charlie Evans/Tania Cresswell (Mazda RX7) and Tony Differ/Jayson Stringer (Mitsubishi Lancer Turbo) will be fighting for the lead in Class D (2WD 2000cc and over) alongside Broadbent.
Chris Alexander/Jackson Foster (Ford Cortina) have the opportunity to take over the lead in Class E (Classic 2WD) with Andrew Keighley electing not to run at this round. Although not entered, Palmer should retain his lead in Class F (4WD: 1601-1999cc).
Carlin Leong/Nathan Roa (Subaru Impreza) are set to extend their 12-point lead in Class G (4WD 2001 and over) over Ben Huband, who will not be at the event due to business commitments. However, watch out for father and son Gavin & Hamish Feast (Subaru Impreza) making their debut on the tarmac.
Chris Burke/Stephen Taylor (Toyota Celica GT) currently lead Class I (4WD: Pre 1996) and will be up against second-placed Shaun Wade/Haylee Wade (Mitsubishi Mirage 4WD) as well as young gun Mitch Pilcher (Subaru Impreza), who impressed with a top ten result at his first rally last month at the Rally of Waitomo.
The one-day event, based in New Plymouth, is run by the South Taranaki & Taranaki Car Clubs and comprises nine Special Stages totalling 152km, plus another 204km of Touring Stages.
Overall honours are likely to be fought out between Rogers, Jason Gill/Katrina Renshaw (VW Polo) and Evan OLeary/Bevan Parker (Mitsi Evo 10), all running in the unrestricted 4WD class.
The first car is away from the SBT Group offices, New Plymouth, at 07:45hrs with stage 1 starting at 0802 hrs. The finish is at the New Plymouth Sportfishing and Underwater Club, 45 Ocean View Parade, Moturoa, with the first car returning at approximately 16.04. Late entries will still be received up until the close of documentation in New Plymouth on Friday evening, 26 June 2026.
The 2026 North Island Rally Series acknowledges and thanks these partners for their support: Hawkeswood Mining, Semog, Pure Quality Construction, Paddon Racing Group, iSignit, Ngatea Panelbeaters and Online Contractors.
Header Image: Chelsea Karl
