From the centre of Auckland to the hills of Kaipara, the stages for the upcoming Repco Rally New Zealand that makes up part of the World Rally Championship (WRC) have finally been revealed.
Four days of rallying from September 29 to October 2 sees the rally tackle 17 unique stages spanning 275km in distance.
The event’s central hub featuring a fan zone at the Repco Rally Village and Service Park will be hosted on Auckland’s waterfront in Silo Park, Wynyard Point and Halsey Wharf.
Racing will get underway at the free to attend Super Special Stage event during the evening of Thursday 29 September at Pukekawa Auckland Domain, featuring a 1.4km route. This will be the first time Kiwi fans will get up close and personal with the new WRC Rally1 hybrid cars.
Friday sees the rally head south to the Waikato for six special stages highlighted by two runs along the Whaanga Coast near Raglan, said to be one of the world’s greatest rally stages.
The rally also makes its way out the back of Huntly for two passes of the Te Akau North and South stages for a Friday filled with 156km of racing.
Saturday sees the event head north of Auckland for the first time in ten years to take on the cambered corners of Kaipara Hills, followed by Puhoi and Komokoriki stages.
Sunday, the final day of the rally, will see a double run of a new stage at Whitford Forest Te Maraunga along with two passes through the purpose-built Jack’s Ridge Haunui stage.
We can expect stadium like viewing at Jack’s Ridge considering it was developed specifically for spectator-focused viewing by Andrew Hawkeswood on his property in Whitford.
“It is a remarkable collection of the most famous stages that have given Rally New Zealand the mantle as having the world’s best flowing gravel roads,” said Stuart Barnett, Clerk of the Course for Repco Rally New Zealand.
“Add to that an opening Super Special Stage at Auckland Domain, the spectacular stages north and south of the city, and an exciting spectacle at Jacks Ridge, and this promises to be an event offering a range of spectacular viewing opportunities.
“Repco Rally New Zealand could not be a better advertisement for Tāmaki Makaurau where a global television audience of more than 70 million fans will see the diverse landscapes of our region.”
Repco Rally New Zealand route:
Thursday, 29 September
Shakedown, Inland Road: 9am
Super Special Stage 1: Pukekawa Auckland Domain, 1.4km, 6:08pm
Friday, 30 September:
Stage 2: Whaanga Coast 1, 29.7km, 8.33am
Stage 3: Te Akau South 1, 31.02km, 10.11am
Stage 4: Te Akau North 1, 18.20km, 11.14am
Stage 5: Whaanga Coast 2, 29.7km, 2.22pm
Stage 6: Te Akau South 3, 31.02km, 4pm
Stage 7: Te Akau North, 18.20km, 5.03pm
Saturday 1 October:
Stage 8: Kaipara Hills 1, 15.83km, 8.08am
Stage 9: Puhoi 1, 22.63kmm 9:06am
Stage 10: Komokoriki 1, 5.6km, 10.14am
Stage 11: Kaipara Hills 2, 15.83km, 2.08pm
Stage 12: Puhoi 2, 22.63km, 3.06pm
Stage 13: Komokoriki 2, 5.6km, 4.24pm
Sunday 2 October:
Stage 14: Whitford Forest Te Maraunga Waiho 1, 8.75km, 10.32am
Stage 15: Jack’s Ridge Haunui 1, 6.42km, 12.08pm
Stage 16: Whitford Forest Te Maraunga Waiho 2, 8.75km, 1.18pm
Stage 17: Jack’s Ridge Haunui 2, 6.42km, 3.18pm.
Tickets for the four day event can be purchased here.
