Rally New Zealand 2008
Coming up is Rally New Zealand, the 11th event in the 2008 championship. From tarmac-roads in Germany we are crossing the world and heading to the gravel-roads of New Zealand. The rally headquarter and service-park are based in the city of Hamilton, 100km south of Auckland. An indoor service-park is placed at the Mystery Creek Event Centre. Spring is on its way in New Zealand, and all though it has been raining heavily the last days, sun is expected to shine during the weekend.
64 cars are on the entry-list, but this time only two of the drivers are from Norway; Petter and Henning. Francois Duval is replacing Gigi Galli as a Stobart-driver. Galli is still recovering from his accident in Germany.
As always on gravel-rallies, being first on the road is not the best position to be in. The difference between being first or eight on the stage could be as much as 1 second per kilometre. The stages are really fast and the smallest mistake could be crucial. New Zealand is 110 % commitment and a lot of gut.
Marcus Grønholm won this event in 2007, only 0,3 second ahead of Sebastien Loeb, the smallest margin ever in the WRC-history. Petter and Phil ended 7 in 2007, but won here in 2004. Marcus Grønholm also won in 2006, when Sebastien Loeb were following the rally from home, with a broken arm.
Itinerary Rally New Zealand 2008
Friday 29 August – Pirongia/Waitomo
0918 SS1 Fusion Pirongia West 1 24,22km
1021 SS2 Castrol Waitomo 1 43,98km
Service Mystery Creek
1407 SS3 Fusion Pirongia West 2 24,22km
1510 SS4 Castrol Waitomo 2 43,98km
1703 SS5 Mystery Creek Super Special 1 3,14km
Saturday 30 August – Franklin /Te Akau
0908 SS6 Ryco Port Waikato 17,22km
0946 SS7 Possum 13,78km
1024 SS8 CRC Franklin 31,58km
1237 SS9 Mystery Creek Super Special 2 3,14km
Service Mystery Creek
1503 SS10 ACL Te Akau South 31,92km
1546 SS11 Champion Batteries Te Akau North 32,36km
Sunday 31 August – Raglan
0923 SS12 BP Ultimate Te Hutewai 1 11,23km
0951 SS13 Whaanga Coast 1 29,72km
Remote Service Raglan
1128 SS14 BP Ultimate Te Hutewai 2 11,23km
1156 SS15 Whaanga Coast 2 29,72km
1400 SS16 Mystery Creek Super Special 3 3,14km
Come on Petter and Phil!
This rally is for your car!
Don´t lose this oportunity.
I wish the best podium!
GO-GO-GO-PETTER AND PHIL-GOOOOOOO!
Elda.
hope recce is going well guys, the scenery in that photo looks very irish too…. good luck xxx
Good luck guys, you deserve to be on the podium.
Good luck!
Have a good and fast rally NZ PETTER!!!!!!!!!!!
I loved the scenary of NZ, we were lucky to drive the entire event the week leading up, even SS1 before the slip took it out, my fav stage was Possum, a fitting tribute to a great man, and a great driver, shame he wasnt an aussie.
we were also lucky enough to get into the recce when the guys were doing theirs, i have never seen a volvo go so fast! and petter i have to find out where you got those spotlights on the white subis!
and when you see Chris tell him sorry for nearly swashing him at the Ibis!
we look forward to seeing you and Chris again, im looking at watching rally Norge, and i will bring you another bottle of wine, to keep reminding you what WRC is missing be going to Queensland!
take care and keep the dust flying!