World Rally Back in Auckland

After three years in Hamilton, the 2010 World Rally Championship is heading back to Auckland from 7-9 May 2010, (the last time was 1990!), the event’s opening day also includes a return to the stages north of the city which haven’t featured in the race since 2005.

The rally will be in the Whangarei and Kaipara districts on Friday 7 May for four stages before the crews have a remote service in Whangarei and then head for another four tests followed by the run through the 1.5-kilometre all-asphalt stage in Auckland’s Domain Park.

Saturday’s action takes the competitors south to the Franklin and Northern Waikato areas for two loops of four stages including two runs at the Hampton Downs race circuit just south of Auckland, where the day’s remote service will take place.
The final day on Sunday is the rally’s shortest, consisting of 81.70 competitive kilometres over four stages. The action centres south west of Auckland and includes two passes through the classic Whaanga Coast stage, which runs alongside the Tasman Coast. The first car is due to reach the ceremonial finish in Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour at 3.00pm.

While there are no New Zealand drivers featuring in the World Rally Cars, there are several who have the potential to do well in the Group N classification. They include Pirelli Star Driver Hayden Paddon, Emma Gilmour and Richard Mason. Gilmour and Mason have been handed wildcard entries by the event organisers to chase PWRC points, while Paddon is chasing an expanded programme of WRC rallies this season.

So if you enjoy motor racing this is an event not to be missed, Rally New Zealand provide a lot of detailed information for spectators on their site, including ticket and timetable information and also a very comprehensive map showing viewing points across the course.  The World Rally 2010 site is also worth a visit for general information on the rally, other stages and competitors,

Photo credit: Kol Tregaskes (Flickr)