Progress towards an exciting 2026 season and final tweaking of the calendar are all part of the planning for the North Island Rally Series (NIRS) heading into the New Year.
“We’re thrilled to have all of our Series sponsors and stakeholders returning for the 2026 season,” commented Co-ordinator Marty Roestenburg.
“Again, we are looking forward to building on what we have been able to establish over the last three seasons and continue to bring more prizes and benefits for drivers and teams choosing to compete in our six-round series. Our website (nirs.co.nz) is up and running, where drivers can start registering for the coming season.”
Back on board is Paddon Rally Group, along with Winmax Brakes, who have committed to a $200 discount Voucher towards brake pads for each round, as well as a 15% discount for Winmax Brake Pads.
“This is a great contribution, while Hayden (Paddon) will also mentor our Rookie of the Year. For drivers and codrivers that register for the NIRS, we have a number of rounds offering discounted entry fees, Drive of the Day Trophies at each Round, along with multiple trophies and awards at the end of season prize-giving.”
RallyDrive NZ has renewed its NIRS partnership and is offering $4k in hot lap, half-day, and full-day testing/sponsor-ride vouchers to volunteers and new/younger competitors.
The first round is the North Waikato Rally (21 March 2026), organised by the Auckland, Pukekohe and South Auckland Car Club partnership.
Based at the Te Akau Community Centre in Te Akau, the one-day event features three ex-World Rally Championship stages, each repeated, totalling 140 kms of magnificent public gravelled roads. It’s a perfect shakedown opportunity for those heading to Rally Otago’s 50th Anniversary event in April.
The Rally of Waitomo (17 May 2026 tbc), second round, is an 80 km Clubman’s rally to be held on public gravel roads and run in the Hamilton Car Club’s traditional, friendly format, based at the Piopio School. HCC were voted the winners of the 2025 NIRS ‘Best Rally of the Year’ for running a smooth event with a really nice whanau vibe.
“Round 3 is on tarmac with the Taranaki Tarmac Rally (27 June 2026), organised by the South Taranaki and Taranaki Car Club partnership.
It will be based in New Plymouth and traversing 160 kms of the most challenging tarmac roads in NZ, up and down Mt. Taranaki on slippery, tight and twisty stages, and the faster roads around the infamous Inglewood yumps,” said Roestenburg.
Rally Taumarunui (8 August 2026) is the fourth round organised by the Marathon Car Club, signalling a return to the incredible Ruapehu District gravel roads after a hiatus of 26 years, and offers 140km of the finest special stages with the Rally based in the Taumarunui township.
The penultimate fifth round of the NIRS is also the final NZ Rally Championship event, with the Rally Bay of Plenty taking place on 31 October 2026 and organised by Motorsport Bay of Plenty.
“It is another enduro special on gravel and forestry roads around the Eastern Bay of Plenty districts,” said Roestenburg.
“For our finale, we head to the North Waikato again for the Maramarua Forest Rally on 14 November. The final round, organized by the North Waikato JV, sees a return to the hallowed hunting grounds steeped in rally folklore.
Based in Te Kauwhata, with 120km of Special Stages, it is just two weeks before the Silver Fern Rally and offers a great shakedown opportunity for competitors. Also included after the round will be the 2026 NIRS end-of-season prizegiving.
The best results from five out of the six Rounds will determine the 2026 Driver and Co-Driver champions, and all Rounds include an 80km Clubmans offering for novice and rookie competitors.
Header Image: Noah Hutchinson
