Hayden Paddon is among the New Zealand drivers competing at Rally New Zealand. Photo: Timo Anis
Ten years after the World Rally Championship was last in New Zealand some of the sport's big names are back and history is on the line.
Drivers and co-drivers from 13 nations will contest Rally New Zealand but local motorsport fans will be paying particular attention to the Rally2 category where six New Zealanders will be behind the wheel sliding in the gravel.
The rally starts with a Super Special Stage in Auckland Domain on Thursday and on the next three days heads southwest towards Raglan, northwest to the Kaipara Hills and finishing on a purpose-built stage near Whitford - covering 275 kilometres and 17 special stages.
After the WRC's return to Aotearoa was stalled two years ago, the country's most successful rally driver Hayden Paddon is relieved to have the event back on these shores for the 32nd time.
"I think we're lucky to get it back. I think after we lost it during Covid in 2020 I think we all thought it was the last chance, whether this is the last one or not we're just lucky to have it here," Paddon says.
Paddon will not be in the main category on home soil, instead he will be in the WRC2 support championship alongside fellow New Zealanders V8 Supercars champion Shane van Gisbergen and Ben Hunt, as well as leading Australian rally driver Harry Bates.
"It would've been nice to see more international WRC2 teams comes down, there's only a few here, but in saying that they're still pitting us all on the world stage on the best rally roads in the world at the same time as the top teams."
Hayden Paddon will race in WRC2 at Rally New Zealand. Photo: Tayler Burke
The rally route is a bit different from the last time it was in New Zealand and Paddon says some of the characteristics traditionally associated with the roads no longer apply.
"The camber is probably not as prominent as what it used to be when the rally went further north and now it's more about generally the really fast, flowing, smooth nature of the stages. Very often gravel rallys around other parts of the world they often get rough and rutted and become sort of like the normal, whereas here the roads don't cut up at all they are an absolute drivers dream you can drive at full tilt everywhere and don't have to worry about breaking the car so much."
Current WRC leader, 21-year-old Finnish driver Kalle Rovanpera, could wrap up the championship in Auckland.
If he does he will become the youngest champion in the sport's history.
Finland's Kalle Rovanpera could win the WRC in New Zealand. Photo: AFP
His Toyota Gazoo Racing teammate eight-time world champion, Sebastien Ogier, is also aiming to remove New Zealand from the small list of rally venues where he has not stood on the top of the podium.
When Ogier was in New Zealand 12 years ago he didn't have a world title to his name and was driving for a different team.
Now the 38-year-old year-old doesn't drive full-time and recognises he has changed.
"Back then I was fighting for my first victory ... the passion is still there, probably not as hungry as I was at that time because when you are young you will give anything for it. I'm still competitive, when I take part in a rally it's to try and win it but through the years I have become a bit more relaxed."
Like Ogier who was seconds away from victory in New Zealand in 2010, Hyundai's Ott Tanak and Thierry Neuville are back.
So is former Rally New Zealand winner, Jari-Matti Latvala.
Latvala is now the team principal for Toyota Gazoo Racing and has some advice for his young countryman Rovanpera this weekend.
"He doesn't need to win, if he can look at the situation and stay ahead of Ott Tanak and get more than eight points here he could secure the championship but we know that it's not that easy."
Latvala recommends Rovanpera just focus on a top five finish.
The first car leaves for the Super Special Stage at 6pm on Thursday and this stage is free for spectators.
