Elements align for FN Rally

A field of nearly 50 vehicles will be racing along local back roads in the Far North Rally this Saturday

The annual event will be held over eight legs in a variety of classes, beginning with Special Stage 1 set to begin on Waiare Road near Kerikeri at 7.20am, followed by SS2 O¯ tangaroa (Fern Flat Rd) at 8.20am, SS3 Mangatoetoe Riley (Fairburn/ Paparapa area) at 9.15am, and SS4 Church (east end of Church Rd) at 10.30am, followed by lunch break at Te Ahu from 10.50am.

After lunch is SS5 Diggers Valley from 12.10pm, then SS6 Paponga (to finish at Kohukohu) from 1.15pm, and SS7 Horeke from 2.40pm with the eight and final stage to run through Oramahoe near Paihia from 3.50pm.

Some of New Zealand’s top drivers are involved this year including Ben Hunt, the reigning Rally NZ national champion, in his “old Subaru” fondly referred to as the Barge, and No.1 seed Dylan Turner in his Audi Quattro.

The Far North will once again be represented by Kaitaia gas station owner Jay Sharp with Johnny Andrews as co-driver in a Subaru WRX. Sharp has been competing in the annual event off and on since 2005.

Event spokesman Bob Mitchell was in the Far North doing a reccy earlier this month.

He said that with the weather forecast looking good, all the factors were starting to align indicating drivers and local motorsport fiends could expect an excellent day of rallying action.

“The roads up there are great. I’ve been over them twice in the last three weeks and they’re in brilliant condition.”

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