More than 1,000 kilometres of competitive gravel stages, seven days of rallying and some of the sport’s most iconic machinery await an international field at the 2026 New Zealand Silver Fern Rally, running from 27 November to 4 December.
One of the world’s distinctive historic marathon rallies, the Silver Fern takes competitors across New Zealand’s North Island, combining spectacular scenery, legendary rally roads and the challenge of keeping classic machinery competitive over seven demanding days.
At its heart is the Historic Competition, featuring pre-1987 two-wheel-drive cars, with the legendary Ford Escort among the most prominent machines. A separate Classic 4WD category celebrates the early four-wheel-drive era, while the Open 2WD Challenge Trophy offers a separate competition for more modern machinery.
Unlike conventional weekend rallies, the Silver Fern is a true endurance challenge. Crews face more than 1,000 kilometres against the clock, where mechanical reliability, consistency, and teamwork matter as much as outright speed.
British Rally Champion Osian Pryce will lead international interest, competing in a Ford Escort alongside Dale Furniss. The field also features American-based Irish rally veteran Seamus Burke and British motorsport personality Tony Jardine, among competitors travelling from around the world.
Among the leading home contenders is Robbie Stokes, a front-runner in the New Zealand Rally Championship and runner-up in the 2024 Silver Fern Rally, who returns to challenge the international field on home soil.
Starting and finishing in Rotorua, the rally travels through the eastern and central regions of New Zealand’s North Island, including the legendary Motu Road. The late Colin McRae made it famous on the world stage in Rally New Zealand during the World Rally Championship era.
For international crews, the Silver Fern offers something increasingly rare in modern motorsport: seven consecutive days of competitive rallying on world-class gravel roads, surrounded by spectacular landscapes and the unmistakable sights and sounds of historic rally cars.
The 2026 New Zealand Silver Fern Rally begins on 27 November, with competition taking place from 28 November to 4 December.
Header Photo: Peter Whitten/Rallysport Magazine
