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Top international racing drivers will be roaring through the hills above Puhoi and Kaipara Flats this Saturday, October 1, as the World Rally Championship (WRC) returns to New Zealand for the first time in more than 10 years.
Some 75 hybrid cars will take part in three special stages, from Glorit to Kaipara Flats, Puhoi to Kanohi and across Komokoriki Hill, as well as driving through Warkworth and out to the Kaipara coast between stages.
Motorsport fans had a taste of what’s to come two years ago, when the Rally New Zealand’s City of Auckland event came through a similar course in November 2020. Now, with travel restrictions lifted, more than 30 international drivers and co-drivers are on their way to tackle a Kiwi course for the first time in more than a decade at the Repco Rally NZ, with 17 stages in and around the wider Auckland region.
The event kicks off on Thursday, September 29 with a 1.4km evening stage at the Auckland Domain that is free to attend. The next day, the cavalcade heads through the Waikato to the iconic Whaanga Coast road south of Raglan, before heading north on Saturday to the three local stages.
The teams will drive up SH1 and along Kahikatea Flat Road to refuelling zones and a pre-race “shakedown” test track near Helensville, then head up SH16 to the first stage of the day, along Kaipara Hills Road from Glorit to Kaipara Flats. The cars then travel along Kaipara Flats Road to SH1, through Warkworth and down to Puhoi, before heading up Krippner and Noakes Hill Roads to the second stage, which goes west along Upper Waiwera Road, a short section of Krippner Road, Tahekeroa Road and down Kanohi Road.
Then it’s back up the Kaipara Coast Highway, this time to West Coast Road, where they head east to the third stage, which is the length of Komokoriki Hill Road, before heading back along West Coast Road to turn right up SH16 to repeat all three stages again.
The first car is due to start the Kaipara Hills Road stage at just after 8am and the final Komokoriki Hill Road section shortly before 4.30pm.
There are four official spectator points (see next page for details) that can be accessed with a Saturday spectator pass.
Cars and drivers will be competing in three categories – WRC1 elite (11 teams), WRC2 (12 teams) and the NZ Rally Championship.
Repco Rally NZ chief executive Michael Goldstein said he was thrilled with the quality of the international drivers who were coming from 13 different countries for the return of the WRC.
“The best of the best are coming, from rising superstars like Kalle Rovanpera (Finland) to the incomparable Sebastien Ogier (France) in the WRC1 class,” he said.
Rovanpera is the current WRC leader and, with co-driver Jonne Haltunnen, could potentially wrap up the title during this weekend’s stages, which, at 21, would make him the youngest world champion in rallying history.
Other international drivers include Estonia’s Ott Tanak, Elfyn Evans from Wales, Belgium’s Thierry Neuville and Oliver Solberg from Sweden.
Kiwi favourite Hayden Paddon is leading the WRC2 pack, which also includes Supercars star and up and coming rally driver Shane van Gisbergen. There are six other NZ teams in the international field, as well as 46 entries in the NZ Rally Championship.
Paddon said having the WRC back in NZ after a 10 year gap was pretty exciting, and he aimed to win his class.
“We have some pretty strong competition and we have to do a lot of good prep, but we have strong knowledge of the stages, so hopefully we can give it a good nudge,” he said.
Info: www.rallynewzealand.com
Race stages on Saturday, October 1
Kaipara Hills 1 15.83km 8.08am
Puhoi 1 22.63km 9.06am
Komokoriki 1 5.6km 10.14am
Kaipara Hills 2 15.83km 2.08pm
Puhoi 2 22.63km 3.06pm
Komokoriki 2 5.6km 4.24pm
Road closures
Kaipara Hills Road, 6am-5pm
Noakes Hill, Upper Waiwera, Monowai, Krippner, Tahekeroa and Kanohi Roads, 7am-6pm
Komokoriki Hill Road, 8am-7pm
Where to view – spectator information
There are four key official spectator areas on the official rally map – three on the Puhoi stage and one at Komokoriki Hill Road.
The first three are all along Upper Waiwera Road, with the first at the junction of Noakes Hill Road, the second at Monowai Road and the third between Hararu and Tahekeroa Roads.
Local community groups will be collecting donations for parking at each.
At Komokoriki Hill Road, viewing spots can only be accessed via park and ride shuttle buses running from Ahuroa Fire Station on West Coast Road from 7-9am and 12.15-3pm. There will be no entry to or exit from Komokoriki Hill Road between 9am and noon or from 3-6pm.
There are no official spectator areas on the Kaipara Hills Road stage.
Access to the viewing points is via a Saturday Spectator Pass, which costs $35 for adults or $17.50 for 13 to 17-year-olds; under 13s are free of charge. Online tickets have sold out, but there will be limited gate sales on the day.
Spectators are advised to arrive at least an hour before the first car starts the stage, as there will be hundreds of people trying to reach the same spot, often down narrow, winding or unsealed roads.
They should also bring cash for food stalls, water and suitable clothing and footwear for any weather and rough terrain. Portable toilets will be provided.
