Entries are now open for the 2024 Silver Fern Rally New Zealand providing a gateway to 51 smooth and fast special stages ranging from fast forest to open prairie and even over a breathtaking mountain pass, the beautiful territory of the South Island has been described as the ‘best rally roads in the world.’
The Silver Fern Rally New Zealand will start in Christchurch and fnish in the historic and picturesque Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu, a picture postcard summary of New Zealand’s glorious topography and heritage, the fnal terminus of an adventurous route of 2000 kms close to Milford Sound.
As ex-WRC Belgian co-driver Stéphane Prévot described the Silver Fern Rally, “It is pure rally gold!” Queenstown is also an adrenalin sports centre, a ftting close for a rally experience of a lifetime.
Competitors from around the world, the USA, Africa, Europe, Australia and beyond are drawn by the closed, smooth but fast gravel roads over dramatic but remote territory.
Welsh star Meirion Evans, a previous winner, keeps coming back for more as does Englishman Phil Squires with Welshman Alun Cook. International Silver Fern Rally winners over the years include Andrew Cowan, Hannu Mikkola, Jimmy McRae, with Englishmen Matthew Robinson and James Ford as recent victors. There will also be competitive entries from New Zealand and Australia, Kiwi Jef Judd was co driven by former WRC star Belgian Stéphane Prévot in 2022, the duo were second.
The potential entrants who formed a healthy list of ‘Expressions of Interest,’ can now convert their registration into entries.
It is part of the great trilogy of top historic endurance rallies, namely the R.A.C. in the UK, the Classic Kenyan Safari and this, the Silver Fern New Zealand seven-day epic.
The organisers, the Ultimate Rally Group run their own version of ‘Super Rally’ in that if a crew has to retire but can fix their car, they can re-start under a ‘Temporary Withdrawal’ system.
URG also offer a three-day rally, the Silver Frond, plus a Time Trial and a Tour.
Kenyan Frank Tundo, himself a veteran of 12 East African Safari rallies (two as team-mate to Possum Bourne in works Subarus) said “I have competed in the Silver Fern Rally three times before, but I just have to come back — this is the most amazing rally on earth. These roads are made for rallying, honestly they are incredible.”
Winning Scottish navigator Neil Shanks with James Ford in 2022 said, “You have to do anything to make it over, sell what you need to, just get there to do it – it’s a must-do event!”
Welsh co-driver Alun Cook said; “The Silver Fern Rally New Zealand is a seasons’ worth of typical UK rallying in one week. You wouldn’t get that anywhere else in the world.”
In addition to the world-class roads, a great New Zealand welcome is guaranteed due to the warmth of the people, as the camaraderie of the rally has proved time and again. Certainly a rally experience to savour.
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