Four-time national champion and reigning champ Ben Hunt is a surprise entry for the upcoming International Rally of Whangarei.
The proven winner could also play a big role in the 2026 championship battle, even without a chance of winning himself.
Hunt will pilot the Force Motorsport Mazda AP4 car that Andrew Hawkeswood drove to the 2017 New Zealand Rally Championship.
But while his entry will boost the event and rally fans, the move also gives the Force Motorsport team a rear-gunner for title hopes, Jack Hawkeswood.
Hawkeswood Jr trails Jack Stokes (Stokes Motorsport Skoda Fabia Rally 2) by just one point heading into the final two rounds of the tightly-fought 2026 championship.
But with Stokes’ crew having a two-car line-up, with two-time NZRC rally winner Robbie Stokes in an identical Skoda to his brother, they have had a potential tactical advantage, where Robbie could take points away from Hawkeswood.
In fact, at the last round at Drive Safe NZ Rally Hawke’s Bay, Robbie Stokes had been set to hand second place to his brother but for a timing issue preventing the team from administering team orders.
Now Force Motorsport in effect have the same luxury.
Hunt could well be subjected to team orders, to try and give Hawkeswood the best possible chance at title success.
It remains to be seen whether the AP4 car is a match for the more modern Rally 2 cars, but we at least know the driver has the ability to mix it at the front over the final two rounds.
Header Image: Geoff Ridder
