Schools tour Repco Rally New Zealand

From bright-eyed five-year-olds to car-mad teenagers, over 500 students and their accompanying teachers and parents have enjoyed a guided tour through the event’s service park at Mystery Creek Events Centre over the past three days.

Each group has visited teams competing in the World Rally Championship (WRC), Production WRC and New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) classes, with a few chances to talk to a technician or team member on the way past. Groups have also visited the media centre where up to 200 international and national media are based, covering the event.

“It’s been fantastic to see the enthusiasm of the students as we’ve toured the event’s service park areas,” says Cherie Brown, marketing manager for Repco Rally New Zealand. “They’ve asked so many questions about all kinds of aspects of rallying as a sport. We’ve enjoyed being able to share some of our world with them all.”

A week earlier a group of Repco Rally New Zealand personnel and competitors visited six primary schools around Hamilton city. Cambridge’s Andre Meier, a competitor in the NZRC class for this event, signed posters after talking to around 2,500 students at the different schools.

Repco Rally New Zealand media centre manager Kim Raggett co-ordinated the school tour and says the students really enjoyed the opportunity to talk to a genuine rally driver like Andre Meier. “It’s a great opportunity for the children to be exposed to a sport like rallying and both students and their teachers had a real sense of excitement about the event,” says Raggett.