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First-ever Gymkhana X features at Rally NZ’s High Octane on Hampton

This Sunday, 8 May, motorsport fans have the chance to witness history in the making as New Zealand’s first-ever ‘Gymkhana X’ competition takes place at ‘High Octane on Hampton’.

Taking place at the Hampton Downs Motorsport Park midway between Auckland and Hamilton as part of Rally New Zealand, the ground-breaking Gymkhana X [said eX] is a Ken Block-style event where competitors negotiate a technical course on the Hampton Downs skidpan while racing against the clock and being scored by specialist drifting judges.

“The idea is inspired by American rally star Ken Block’s gymkhana videos on YouTube,” says Rally New Zealand chairman Peter ‘PJ’ Johnston. “We’re pitting some of New Zealand’s most spectacular rally drivers in their equally spectacular cars up against some amazingly talented drifters, and the action is going to be fantastic!”

Leading the rally team is Auckland’s Andrew Hawkeswood. A former frontrunner in the New Zealand Rally Championship, Hawkeswood tackles the Gymkhana X course in his stunning Group B Audi Quattro S1 replica. The rally team also features Steve Murphy and his monstrous V8-powered Mitsubishi Cordia, a car that sums up the Kiwi DIY attitude. In this car, Murphy has become one of a select bunch to win the infamous Ashley Forest Rallysprint three times. Rallying also draws on the skills of Greg Goudie and his historically-correct Ford Escort and the similar but far more modified Escort of Clark Proctor. Rounding out the rally field is emerging talent Adam Bligh in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.

On the drift side, Red Bull-backed ‘Mad Mike’ Whiddett leads the charge. Whiddett, who has been described as the Possum Bourne of the New Zealand drifting scene, is a former D1NZ champion and has huge experience competing internationally. Also representing the drifters is former rally, off-road and circuit driver Daynom Templeman. Like Whiddett, Templeman runs a rotary-powered Mazda RX7. Whiddett and Templeman are joined by Carl Ruiterman, another former D1NZ champion, in his fantastic Nissan Silvia.

“The calibre of competitors we have for the inaugural Gymkhana X is incredibly high,” continues Johnston. “We have frontrunners from both the rally and drift scene, with each of the cars unique and exciting in their own respect. All in all, I think this is going to be a hugely exciting and successful competition and I can’t wait to see it!”

High Octane on Hampton is part of a massive weekend of motorsport for the 2011 running of Rally New Zealand.

The rally itself runs from 7 to 8 May and takes competitors through the Franklin, north Waikato and Raglan regions with three exciting super special stages being run at Hampton Downs. Between the rally stages, the High Octane on Hampton action also features an intense time attack competition, where purpose-built racers put it all on the line for one faultless lap of the circuit. Fans can also enjoy great ‘big banger’ circuit racing, a Deluxe bikini model comp, drift demonstrations from D1NZ and a full-on PlayStation Gran Turismo 5 virtual racing challenge with fantastic prizes.

Tickets for Sunday’s High Octane on Hampton are available at the gate, priced at $25 for each adult and children under 12 years of age free with a paying adult. Fans can enjoy a massive day of action including the final super special stage for Rally New Zealand competitors. On-track action starts at 8:50am with qualifying sessions for several classes and the first race at 10:10am.