Rally NZ News
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New WRC S2000 Cup for Rally New Zealand in 2010
With confirmation of Rally New Zealand, as expected, as the fifth event of a 13-round FIA World Rally Championship in 2010 comes the news that the event will also be a round of the inaugural WRC Cup for Super 2000 rally cars.
The Super 2000, or S2000, cars will form the basis of replacement for the current WRC cars from the 2011 season, so it’s particularly exciting to see these new models in action in New Zealand next year, says Rally New Zealand general manager Paul Mallard.
Tapper to make tarmac debut in WRC Spain
South Auckland rally competitor Mark Tapper will pave new ground when he contests a tarmac round of the World Rally Championship (WRC) driving the three-day Rally de España over the weekend of 2 to 4 October.
The Spanish rally is the fifth and penultimate Pirelli Star Driver event for 28-year-old Tapper and his Christchurch co-driver Jeff Judd. It’s also the first time the Kiwi crew has competed in an all-asphalt event. Tapper drives a Ralliart Italia-prepared Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X as part of the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) driver scholarship programme, and says the new challenge serves to motivate him further.
Penultimate pressure for WRC title contenders
This weekend’s penultimate round of the 2009 World Rally Championship (WRC) in Spain brings real pressure to the top drivers.
The all-tarmac surface makes Rally de España a speciality event that counts against the current series leader Mikko Hirvonen. On 78 points and with a five-point cushion over Citroen’s Sebastién Loeb at the top of the drivers’ standings after ten of the 12 rounds, Ford driver Hirvonen acknowledges the additional pressure he will be under to maintain his position.
Top drivers through to Rally’s Rising Stars shootout
The top drivers in Rally New Zealand’s two Rising Stars awards have been named after the Nelson Rally held over the weekend of 19 and 20 September.
Geraldine’s Hayden Paddon and Whangarei’s Ben Jagger were already through to the final shootout for the Rising Stars International Award and Development Award respectively based on the points the two drivers had earned during their four nominated rallies. But the second driver to go through to the shootout in each Award category all came down to the results in Nelson.
More details revealed for Rally New Zealand’s route in 2010
With Auckland now confirmed as the 2010 home-base for Rally New Zealand, the local round of the FIA World Rally Championship, officials are considering the route for the four-day event which takes places from 6 to 9 May next year.
Thursday 6 May sees the WRC drivers and crews gather in Auckland city for the ceremonial start, says Rally New Zealand’s clerk of course Willard Martin who spends months each year planning the intricate details of the rally’s route and liaising with the councils, residents and volunteer organisations who help make this world championship event possible.
Last rally for Rally’s Rising Stars
With this weekend’s Rally Nelson, the competitors registered for Rally New Zealand’s two Rising Stars Awards will know who goes through to November’s shootout on points and who will have to apply for a wildcard entry.
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