Entries are now officially open for the 2025 Bay of Plenty Rally, taking place on 10–11 October in the stunning Western Bay of Plenty.
This year’s rally promises a spectacular challenge, featuring 10 competitive gravel stages covering 165 kilometres.
Competitors can look forward to two brand-new forest stages, with roads presented in immaculate condition to deliver fast, flowing and highly competitive rallying.
The event also holds special significance as the fifth and final round of both the New Zealand Rally Championship and the North Island Rally Series, ensuring plenty of championship battles go right down to the wire.
Event Schedule:
- Thursday evening – Documentation at PF Automotive
- Friday morning – Recce
- Friday afternoon – Ceremonial Start & Rally Show at Mitre 10 Tauranga
- Saturday – Rally action, with Start & Finish at Classic Flyers, Mount Maunganui
Competitors are encouraged to secure their spot early, with normal entries closing on Wednesday, 24 September via Motorsport Online. Supplementary Regulations: Part One are available here.
Don’t miss the opportunity to be part of one of the country’s most anticipated rally weekends – both competitors and fans are set for an unforgettable experience.
Rally Stage Descriptions:
- SS1 Mangatoi | 11.77km – A highly technical start to a very technical stage with a fantastic flow to it.
- SS2 MacDougall Quarry | 14.85km – Starts on a short tarmac section uphill, over the crest onto gravel, and the road twists down past the farmland. At the bottom of the valley, there’s a tight left-hand turn and tarmac for 1k and a tight right-hand back onto gravel. A short slow zone in here and then off we go into a great hard-based road running along the side of the forest. A fast and mostly smooth stage.
- SS3/5 Matahina | 34.16km – Into the forest we go with a monster stage. Fast and tricky on roads that haven’t been rallied for 20-odd years.
- SS4/6 Nursery | 11.86km – Another forestry stage that will test you. Shorter this time but just as good.
- SS7 Manawahe | 12.75km – A shortened version this year of a great BOP road that starts uphill and then flows over the top on a great technical, twisty gravel road, then onto a great flowing gravel road that leads down to Helicopter Corner, where you’ll finish. And this is the Power Stage!
- SS8 Herepuru | 7.63km – The reverse of last year, with the start downhill on a bit of tarmac and then onto the gravel of a great public road. There’s a bit of tarmac in the middle and then uphill to the finish across the crest and back onto tarmac.
- SS9 Campbell | 14.36km – Through a bit of farmland, then a fast and mostly smooth gravel road beside the forest. A slow zone at the end of Campbell and then left onto tarmac for a bit, and then right onto the gravel and a great bit of hillclimb road here. The finish is just before the crest, where it turns back into tarmac.
- SS10 No 2 Road | 11.67km – Start by a farm gate and then into the bush on a wonderful flowing road. Past the intersection, it starts to tighten up and go downhill. Then along the valley and up past some forest to the finish. A wonderfully technical road to finish the rally.
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Enquires: info@rallybop.org.nz
Header Image: Jessica Barnes / Blissful Photography
