The 2024 Generator Rental Services North Island Rally Series (NIRS) roars back into action with the Ventia Rally of Dargaville Tunatahi this Saturday, 27 July 2024. The one-day event has attracted a number of top national teams with Ben Hunt/Tony Rawstorn, Skoda Fabia Rally 2 Evo taking top seed ahead of Jack Hawkeswood/Jason Farmer (Toyota Yaris AP4), Todd Bawden/Dave Neill (Ford Fiesta R5 MkII), Dylan Turner/Brianna Little (Audi S1 AP4) and Haydn Mackenzie/Shane Reynolds (Toyota Yaris AP4). Fifth on the road is Quentin Palmer/Noel Moloney, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5 who is currently placed second overall in the NIRS.
Missing from the entry list is Phil Campbell who leads the NIRS overall points table having won the first two rounds. While Campbell has elected to sit out the event, Palmer has the opportunity to take over the lead should he be the first NIRS competitor home.
The event starts and finishes in Dargaville and will be run on gravel roads in the Kaipara District with the National field competing 128km over six Special Stages and 190km of touring. Also on the card is a Clubmans field who will compete over the final four stages, comprising 77km of special stages and 140km of touring.
“The support the rally has received from Council, Iwi, residents, event partners and the Dargaville community has been overwhelming,” said the Event Chairman and NIRS coordinator Marty Roestenburg. “To bring this exciting sport back to the district after a 30-year hiatus is very cool and the Rally Committee hope everyone has a safe, fun and friendly experience.”
The first two stages take place on the same 26km fast gravel road on a hard base with two spectator points. The first service takes place back at the Dargaville Service Park between these stages and the second run through this fabulously enjoyable stage, before an early lunch.
The 19km Tokatoka SS3 takes in parts of previous World Rally Championship stages with a medium to fast packed gravel road incorporating several slumps in the road and narrow bridges.
The 19.6km Greenhill SS4 starts off fast before turning 90 degrees right at the spectator point onto the Parahi Outlet and the Parahi and Oparakau Roads, used in Rally NZ.
The third service point takes place in Ruawai before competitors repeat SS3 and SS4 and back to Dargaville for the rally finish.
The first car gets underway from Hokianga Road in Dargaville at 9:00am while the first Clubmans car gets underway at approximately 1:00pm. The first car is expected to finish at the final control (TC6A) on Totara St, Dargaville at approximately 5:00pm.
Overall Points after 2/6 rounds (Top 15)
1/ Phil Campbell 80
2/ Quentin Palmer 61
3/ Charlie Evans 39
4/ Nick Marshall 38
5/ Todd Bawden 34
6/ Shaun Wade 31
7= Nic De Waal 30
7= Haydn Mackenzie 30
9/ Dale Perry 28
10= David Ayling 24
10= Dave Strong 24
12= Bevan Wilson 22
12= Ben Huband 22
14= Chris Burke 20
14= Mike Torr 20
Entries
Seed, Driver 1/Driver 2, Car, Class
1/ Ben Hunt/Tony Rawstorn, Skoda Fabia Rally 2 evo F
2/ Jack Hawkeswood/Jason Farmer, Toyota Yaris AP4 F
3/ Todd Bawden/Dave Neill, Ford Fiesta R5 MkII F
4/ Dylan Turner/Brianna Little, Audi S1 AP4 F
5/ Haydn Mackenzie/Shane Reynolds, Toyota Yaris AP4 F
6/ Quentin Palmer/Noel Moloney, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5 G
7/ Zeal Jones/Bayden Thomson, Subaru Impreza G
8/ Jay Sharp/Matt Sayers, Subaru Impreza G
9/ Nick Marshall/Reece Harrison, Ford Laser G
10/ Mike Torr/Jess Parker, Subaru Impreza G
11/ Carl Adnitt/Corinne Cutler, Mazda RX8 G
12/ Ben Huband/Tania Cresswell, Subaru Impreza G
13/ Bevan Wilson/Steve Mawer, Subaru Impreza I
14/ Dave Strong/Rob Scott, Ford Fiesta G
15/ Daniel Haines/Matt Priest, Ford Escort Mk2 D
16/ Barry Armiger/Alex Parkin, Mazda RX7 D
17/ Ian Wood/Shaun Piper, Toyota Corolla D
18/ McCrae Sloper/Dave Christie, BMW 328i D
19/ Pierre-Henri Brunet/Mal Peden, Mazda 2 F
20/ Shaun Wade/Haylee Wade, Mitsubishi Mirage I
21/ Doug Adnitt/Tony Mabbett, Subaru Impreza H6 H
22/ David Ayling/Brad Still, Ford Escort E
23/ Jeff Ward/Caitlin Chubb, Hillman Hunter V8 D
24/ Rodney James/Adam Miller, Toyota MR2 B
25/ Adrian Smith/Brett Lightfoot, Ford Escort Mk2 E
26/ Jamie Rodgers/Josh Rodgers, Subaru Impreza H6 H
27/ Simon Bell/Warwick Martin, Subaru Legacy RS RA I
28/ Phillip Broadbent/Sam Broadbent, Toyota Starlet B
29/ Jeff Torkington/Nastassia Subritzky, Toyota MR2 D
30/ Kaden Wood/Kyle Percival, Nissan Skyline C
31/ Steve Dill/Adrian Sutton, Nissan Pulsar C
32/ Simon Rabbidge/Connor Rabbidge, Suzuki Swift B
33/ Marc Huband/Richard Yallop, Toyota Corolla B
34/ Andrew Treseder/Mark Riach, Mazda RX7 E
35/ Nick Flanagan/Tristan Lees-Baker, Peugeot 205 C
36/ Andrew Bowie/ James Featherstone, Ford Escort Mk1 E
37/ Bruce James/Thera Helmich, Toyota MR2 C
40/ Chris Burke/Stephen Taylor, Toyota Celica I
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