The 2015 Tanoa Paihia Hotel Rally of the North will see a diverse field of cars line up for the Paihia based event on September 12.
Always a highlight on the rallying calendar, Rally of the North will see cars spanning every decade since the 1960’s line up to take on some of the best roads the Far North district has to offer.
The oldest car in the event will once again be the MGB driven by Paul Walbran affectionately known as ‘Joseph’. As well as having been in the Walbran family or decades, the car is historically significant as the last MGB ever to contest a round of the World Rally Championship when Andy Walker contested the 1985 Rally New Zealand in the car.
At the other end of the spectrum is the 2015 Volkswagen Polo Proto car of Shannon Chambers, which made its rallying debut at the recent Rally Coromandel only matter of weeks ago. The car is externally very similar to the VW’s currently dominating the World Rally Championship and with Mitsubishi suspension and power train. Chambers also has recent form at Rally of the North, finishing third last year.
Another Volkswagen in the field, albeit not expected to be quite as quick, is the 1969 Beetle of Hamilton’s Daniel Hill. Like Walbran’s MG though, Hill’s Beetle will be fighting for honours in class ‘B’ for vehicles with an engine size of 1401-1850cc.
All of the entries for the 2015 Tanoa Paihia Hotel Rally of the North will leave the Williams Street car park in Paihia from 7am on Saturday 12 September, with crews competing over a total of eight high-speed special stages that add up to 180km of flat out competition as far north as Kaitaia before they return to the Williams Street car park for the finish at 4.25pm.
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