Reigning FIA Production Car World Rally champion Nasser Al Attiyah has been forced to pull out of Rally New Zealand.

The Qatar driver suffered injuries after he rolled his car during filming for a promotional video.

The 38th Rally New Zealand, Round 11 of the FIA World Rally Championship, will be based in Hamilton, heading to the King Country, Waikato and Franklin districts from 30 August to 2 September.

Al Attiyah was behind the wheel of a road car while making the video for a sponsor when he crashed.

"He suffered head injuries which, although not serious, will not heal in time for the rally," said team manager Ken Skidmore, of British-based preparation company Autotek.

Fellow Qatari Misfer Almari will replace Al Attiyah in the Subaru Impreza which is already on its way to New Zealand.

This is the latest incident in a season of ill fortune for Al Attiyah, who has failed to finish two of his four starts this year and his withdrawal from Rally New Zealand means he has no chance of retaining his world crown.

The current leader in the PWRC is Japan's Toshi Arai (Japan), who followed his victory in the 2005 world championship with appalling luck last year - and now it seems that Al Attiyah is following in similar lines.

"Several. Too Many. Lost count," said Skidmore to questions of how many crashes that Al Attiyah has suffered this season."

Rally New Zealand starts with the traditional shakedown test at Mystery Creek on Thursday 30 August ahead of the Ceremonial Start in downtown Hamilton on Thursday evening.

The rally proper begins on Friday 31 August in the Otorohanga and Waitomo region, day two is in the Franklin District and northern Waikato and final day in Raglan, with super special stages each day back at the rally headquarters and service park at Mystery Creek.