Targa to return to capital

The Targa New Zealand car rally will return to Wellington for the first time in seven years.

Three hill stages will be raced in the capital on the event’s final day on Saturday, October 28.

The action will herald the first Targa racing in the capital since the 2010 rally finished in the central city.

Three stages at Upper Hutt’s Moonshine, Paekakariki and Makara hill roads will provide the final afternoon action of the rally, which will get under way in Auckland on October 24.

The Wellington events also feature a controlled ‘‘rollout’’ of the rally vehicles for a public display at Taranaki Wharf on the Saturday evening.

Seven stages, and 142km, will be raced on the final day, which will begin in Palmerston North and travel and race in Wairarapa before the vehicles head over the Rimutaka hill.

Overall, the 2017 Targa New Zealand competitors will race 641 kilometres. Another 1170km will be covered in non-competition touring.

Organised by the Ultimate Rally Group, Targa New Zealand is a time-trial event in which competitors compile points over each race leg to determine a series champion.

Approval to use Moonshine Hill was given by the Upper Hutt council. The 12km of racing will be from the hill road intersection with Kirton Drive to the city boundary on Moonshine Rd and will require a four-hour closure.

Advertising of the proposed closure attracted three submissions opposing approval and two in support..

The supporters included Andrew Hutson, chairman of the Moonshine Valley Residents Association. He said the rally had received full backing at the group’s recent annual meeting.