Rally New Zealand is about to make its 32nd appearance on the 50th FIA World Rally Championship calendar.
It’s been over a decade since the FIA WRC (World Rally Championship) last held a stage in New Zealand, however, this year, Auckland will host the 11th round of the 2022 world championship from September 29 to October 2.
Owned and overseen by the FIA, the WRC is the ultimate level of global competition in rallying. With separate championships for drivers, co-drivers, manufacturers and teams, the series consists of (this season) 13 three to four-day rally events driven on surfaces ranging from gravel and tarmac to snow and ice. Each rally is usually split into 15–25 special stages which are run against the clock on up to 350 kilometres of closed roads.
The WRC also features two ‘support’ championships, WRC-2 and WRC-3 which are contested on the same events and stages as the WRC, but with progressively lower performance and vehicle running costs.
Locally born Rally New Zealand was first held in Taupo in 1969, and was subsequently staged in Canterbury, before moving back to the North Island in 1971. The NZ rally was then included as a round of the World Rally Championship in 1977, where (apart from a handful of years) it remained on the gruelling global schedule until 2012.
With our breathtaking scenery and challenging unsealed roads, New Zealand has been a favourite for both fans and drivers alike, in fact WRC teams voted it ‘Rally of the Year’ in 2001. On top of that, the 2007 Rally ended with the closest-ever finish in the history of the WRC after over 350 competitive kilometres, only 0.3 seconds separated the winner Marcus Grönholm and second-placed Sébastien Loeb.
Our very own Hayden Paddon, (the only driver from the southern hemisphere to ever win a WRC event), is the NZ event’s official ambassador and it’s safe to say that he’s excited about the event.
“It has long been a dream of mine to compete against the world’s best here in my own backyard. And I am so thrilled to have a role to play,” said Paddon.
And with five New Zealand Rally Championship wins under his belt, all eyes will be on him and his Hyundai i20 N Rally2 as he competes in WRC-2.
This year’s event has a specific focus on sustainability and EVs with the 2022 Rally1 cars required to be plug-in hybrid vehicles for the first time ever, with mandatory 100kW hybrid units that are coupled to the 1.6-litre turbocharged internal combustion engine. In tandem, they will allow the powertrain to develop 500bhp to be used in short bursts across every stage. The cars will also be powered by 100% sustainable fuel.
As outlined, the new Rally1 regulations are designed to move the WRC into a much more sustainable future and to attract new manufacturers, and as a result Hyundai, Toyota and M-Sport Ford have designed and built all-new cars around a new safer, steel spaceframe chassis.
Richard Clarke, Head of Major and Business Events at Auckland Unlimited says, “we are excited about the opportunity to partner with WRC. From building on the unique sustainability story developed at the Jacks Ridge venue, to continuing our positive relationship with the local community and iwi, and providing another exciting event opportunity for locals and visitors to enjoy Tamaki Makaurau.”
With Monte Carlo, Sweden, Croatia, Portugal, Sardinia and Kenya already completed and Finland’s Kalle Rovanperä in his GR Yaris leading the charge thus far, you can be sure that the excitement will grow as this year’s season unfolds.
Friday 30th September sees New Zealand’s WRC action head to the Waikato, while Saturday 1st October includes the Western and Northern Regions of Auckland. Sunday 2nd’s
thrills take place at Jack’s Ridge, where the Wolf Power Stage is the spectator showcase of the event.
Boasting an annual audience of more than 800 million viewers globally, the WRC is at last, now back in our own backyard, see you there.
Dave McLeod,
Motoring Writer
