After ten long years, the FIA World Rally Championship is making its return to the land of the long white cloud for Repco Rally New Zealand.
Four days of rallying from September 29 to October 2 will see drivers from all over the world take to 17 unique stages totalling 275km across Auckland and north Waikato.
Below you can find information regarding the event, who’s competing, where the stages are and spectator information including safety, parking and other activities.
The event will be streamed live on Spark Sport and WRC+.
There are 29 WRC drivers entered into the running of Repco Rally New Zealand including 11 entrants in the WRC1 elite category, 12 in WRC2 including Hayden Paddon and Shane van Gisbergen, and six other Kiwis also in the international field.
Highlights of the field include 21-year-old Finnish driver Kalle Rovanperä who is currently leading the FIA WRC standings and could secure the title with co-driver Jonne Halttunen.
Other drivers in the WRC1 category include Hyundai World Rally Team’s Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville as well as M-Sport Ford’s Craig Breen.
In WRC2, Kiwis will be cheering on the likes of Hayden Paddon and John Kennard in their Hyundai i20 Rally2 as well as Supercars championship leader Shane van Gisbergen who will also be taking part.
Ben Hunt is another New Zealander making up the WRC2 field while Australian Rally Champion Harry Bates will be bringing some trans-Tasman rivalry to the table.
There are 75 competitors overall including those competing in the New Zealand Rally Championship as well.
An FIA-approved entry list can be found here.
Rally drivers, their teams, cars and mechanics have set up shop on Auckland’s waterfront for this year’s event.
The event’s central hub featuring a fan zone at the Repco Rally Village and Service Park will be hosted on Auckland’s waterfront in Silo Park, Wynyard Point and Halsey Wharf.
There will be plenty to see and do at the free to attend Repco Rally Village where fans can grab an autograph or catch a glimpse of their favourite driver.
Be mindful of moving cars and mechanics around the Service Park as this area is used to maintain competitor’s vehicles during and after rallies.
It is recommended to park in the Auckland CBD and walk along the waterfront to the site.
The rally will stretch across Auckland and the Waikato over four days and will include 17 stages totalling 275km.
Racing will get underway at the free to attend Super Special Stage event during the evening of Thursday 29 September at Pukekawa Auckland Domain, featuring a 1.4km route.
Friday sees the rally head south to the Waikato for six special stages highlighted by two runs along the Whaanga Coast near Raglan as well as out the back of Huntly for two passes of the Te Akau North and South stages for a Friday filled with 156km of racing.
Saturday sees the event head north of Auckland for the first time in ten years to take on the cambered corners of Kaipara Hills, followed by Puhoi and Komokoriki stages.
Sunday, the final day of the rally, will see a double run of a new stage at Whitford Forest Te Maraunga along with two passes through the purpose-built Jack’s Ridge Haunui stage.
Mad Mike Whiddett, Alister McRae, Sloan Cox and more will take to Jack’s Ridge for the Supershow showcase event on Sunday as well.
A full stage breakdown with times can be found below:
Maps for all stages including routes and spectator zones can be found here.
Remember to bring your digital or physical ticket along with you to your chosen stage(s) for entry.
Based on pre-event ticket sales, the Rally is expecting unprecedented volumes of Spectators and Traffic in the areas the it is running.
Be sure to arrive around one hour in advance of the ‘First Car Time’ marked on the stage(s) you choose to attend as hundreds of people will be doing the same.
Ticket holders will have been emailed an official spectator guide to refer to as well.
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