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Flashback to 2012, when the World Rally Championship was held near Maungaturoto.
New Zealand’s top rally drivers will be carving up Kaipara Hills next week for the City of Auckland rally on Saturday, November 14.
Big names include world rally star Hayden Paddon, reigning New Zealand champion Ben Hunt, rising star Jack Hawkeswood and Supercars star Shane van Gisbergen.
Competitors will race through the Kaipara Hills, Puhoi and Riverhead Forest before finishing at the purpose-built Jacks Ridge stage in Whitford.
The three stages were to be used when the World Rally Championship was due to visit New Zealand in September, but the event was cancelled due to Covid-19.
The rally starts at Kumeu Showgrounds at 7.50am before cars head north to the 16km Kaipara Hills stage.
From 8.40am, drivers will race from the intersection of Kaipara Hills Road and SH16. They will head east to the Kaipara Flats township.
Drivers will then tackle a 23km run through Puhoi, starting at the intersection of Krippner Road and Noakes Hill Road.
The course heads along Upper Waiwera Road through to Tahekeroa Road and finishes on Kanohi Road at the intersection with Cory Road.
The third stage is a 16km track through Riverhead Forest in south Rodney.
Drivers will reassemble at Kaipara Hills at 12.20pm and repeat the course.
Finally, drivers will travel to Whitford where they will have two runs through the 6km Jacks Ridge stage on former New Zealand rally champion Andrew Hawkeswood’s farm.
Residents who live on roads on the course stages throughout Rodney have been advised what times their roads will be closed.
Those who have not received notice can contact Rally New Zealand on 09 276 0882.
