The second of eight rounds for the 2019 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) heads to the North Island of New Zealand for the two-day ENEOS International Rally of Whangarei.
Headed by first round winner Hayden Paddon, he will be joined by co-driver Samantha Gray in last year’s winning Hyundai i20 AP4. Paddon has won this event four times – first in 2007, as the youngest driver to win an international level regional rally.
Spending a day each to the north and south of host city Whangarei the highly cambered (banked) and flowing nature of the roads makes them a drivers’ favourite. The ability to ‘hug’ the road and make the car seem to dance from corner to corner creates exciting viewing – set against the picturesque Northland rolling farm pastures.
A total of six teams are entered for the Pacific Cup qualifying round of the APRC, including father and son pairing of Andrew Hawkeswood / Jeff Cress and Jack Hawkeswood / Alex Parkin in matching Mazda 2 AP4 cars.
Unable to score points at the opening round puts Dave Holder / Jason Farmer (pictured above in their Holden Barina AP4) equal with fellow Kiwi pairing Mike Young / Malcolm Read (Toyota Yaris). Japan’s Suguru Kawana / Noriko Takeshita start the New Zealand event for the first time, driving a Toyota Vitz.
Other notable entries to the rally include US action driver Ken Block and co-driver Alex Gelsomino (Ford Escort Cosworth) and Irishman Frank Kelly / Laruen Kelly in the ‘Baby Blue’ Ford Escort MKII.
Following the Friday 17:00hrs driver signing and ceremonial start atop the bi-folder river crossing bridge of Te Matau ā Pohe, is a double-run of the 1.25km Super Special Stage at the adjoining Pohe Island.
Resuming Saturday morning the journey heads north for a further eight stages. Sunday heads south, covering another eight stages. Cars then return to Whangarei for the ceremonial finish at the Quayside Town Basin from 15:00hrs.
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