Mads Ostberg for Otago Classic Rally with Stephane Prevot.
https://rallysportmag.com/norwegian-...c-rally-debut/
Alister McRae won the Leadfoot Festival hillclimb in the Vantage Subaru WRX
https://www.facebook.com/VantageWind...8873770469104/
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Mads Ostberg for Otago Classic Rally with Stephane Prevot.
https://rallysportmag.com/norwegian-...c-rally-debut/
Alister McRae won the Leadfoot Festival hillclimb in the Vantage Subaru WRX
https://www.facebook.com/VantageWind...8873770469104/
Over 110 entries expected for Rally Otago http://www.otagorally.com/home/competitors/entry-list
Malcolm Peden will codrive for Phil Campbell in NZRC 2018.
Campbell will campaign an AP4 Fiesta. In 2015 Phil was second overall in NZRC but did only a few events in 2016 & 2017.
Peden was team manager for Force Motorsport in 2016 & 2017 as well as codriving for Jack Hawkeswood at Rally Otago 2017. Jack is the son of 2017 NZRC champ Andew Hawkeswood. Peden was art of NZ Co-drivers Academy last year. He has plenty of codriving experience including being Alex Kelsey's codriver in the Peugeot powered MC2
Holder's JWRC drive was slowed by un-diagnosed bent rear suspension in Sweden.(after a big spin into a snow bank mid-event.)
Sloan Cox testing for Rodin Cars in off season? http://rodin-cars.com/
Sloan Cox to join RX Academy Finland
https://www.rx-academy.com/rx-academy-2018/
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rotorua-da...ectid=12008087
Hayden Paddon has confirmed he will be doing 5 out of 6 rounds of NZRC 2018. Australia's BRendan Reeves is also working on a 5 out of 6 NZRC campaign http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rallying/n...ectid=12012523
Hawkeswood leaves car in garage while there is some work to so. (The NZ rally champion's 'curse' - win the championship one year and then have problems getting back in a car etc the next.
https://rallysportmag.com/nz-champio...plans-on-hold/
Murphy to miss Whangarei
https://www.facebook.com/notes/offic...1526507869186/
Cust Sprint 2018 - 'shakedown' for Westland
https://www.facebook.com/AutosportCa...6694208117099/
Lofty Drews pre-event dinner guest speaker at Otago.
http://www.otagorally.com/home/news/...at-otago-rally
Ian Warren (panel beater) Rally Otago schol recipient
Summerfield number 1 at Westland. close back to Galbraith.
Summerfield may have benefited from using a pint sized co-driver.
https://www.facebook.com/MattSummerf...935286/?type=3
Brad Harris entered Westland Rally after 8 years away from rallying. On first stage he lost 1 minute 7.4 seconds after "the throttle idle control valve jammed on full 6km from end of stage" Eventually Brad and codriver Dave Calder finished 4th overall just 1:03.2 behind the event winners.
Here are Dave's comments after the rally.
"Great start to the year with 4th outright for Brad Harris at Westland Rally. A remarkable fight back to come from 27th after the issue in SS1. 3 stage wins and 4 second fastest stage times was a great comeback after 8 years out of the seat. You havn't lost your talent mate !"
Mike Young down for rallies in Cusco AP4? Vitz
https://www.facebook.com/MikeYoungMo...944233/?type=3
Spectator guide for rally otago
http://otagorally.com/home/rally-inf...or-information
Mitsubishi Ralliart NZ Mirage previously driven by Brian Green will be driven by Matt Summerfield in NZRC 2018
Caution : video contains offensive language https://www.facebook.com/MattSummerf...0021168420141/
Hope he doesn't forget to go sideways in the new car, always a great driver to see on the stages as a photographer/spectator. The old Sub was starting to show its age against the current competition though I guess.
115 entries for Rally Otago http://otagorally.com/home/news/652-...or-otago-rally
Had a good day out on Saturday at the ESCC Popotunoa sprint, great 10km stretch of road which a few competitors were using as a shakedown before Otago, similar character of road - fast flowing cresty stuff with a few tighter sequences to mix it up.
Jumped in the silly seat for a run with Derek Ayson (Silver Fern and 3x Otago Classic winner) in his Mk2 Escort, top bloke and the man can certainly drive.
Photos here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmd4QBfm
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/885/4...78c73dc3_o.jpgDSC_2225 by Ben, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/806/4...3c4bc4fb_o.jpgDSC_2236 by Ben, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/902/2...48ef1542_o.jpgDSC_2253 by Ben, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/894/4...bdd2390b_o.jpgDSC_2563 by Ben, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/802/4...0f9b9d0b_o.jpgDSC_2289 by Ben, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/883/4...05e5c653_o.jpgDSC_2527 by Ben, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/867/2...7d2ec886_o.jpgDSC_2813 by Ben, on Flickr
What type of camera/ speeds do you require to get car shots like above?
Holder demonstrates Corsican road width
https://www.facebook.com/DaveHolderR...0419610984935/
Hi Kiwi rally folk,
I'm planning to head over to the Otago Rally next weekend, I compete and spectate in the UK but this will be my first time attending an event in NZ. The spectator guide is very helpful (I've never seen anything so detailed at home!) but I have a couple of questions if you can help.
1. It looks like all the spectator points are located at junctions - do you access these via the roads that aren't part of the route and park along those? Or is it neccessary to drive in through the stage and find a safe place to park up before the road closure takes effect? (we do that in some closed road events in the UK)
2. Do the cars run at 1 minute intervals?
Also any particular must see spots? High commitment fast bits preferred ;-)
Thanks!
1. You generally access junctions via a side road and park there, some spots are very popular so you might have to park a fair way down the road and walk from there (allow extra time for that). If you're sensible you can walk into the stage from junctions to find other spots, just the usual common sense keep your ears on and don't be somewhere silly when cars are coming. Basically you can spectate wherever you like as long as you're safe, the designated spectator points are just easy access popular suggestions.
2. I can't remember off the top of my head if they run 1 or 2 minute interval there, I think its 1 minute. Obviously never assume you have that long to walk along the road between cars though, especially towards the end of longer stages where the gaps can vary a lot. I'm sure you know that already!
I haven't had a good look at the spectator map yet but I'll be there again so will update with some thoughts on spots for spectating once I've thought about where I'm going. Spec point on SS16 is a good one though, acute but fairly wide corner with a fast approach makes for entertaining action. Here's a photo from that corner a few years back:
https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3859/...1c5e57e8_o.jpg2010RallyOtago-646 by Ben, on Flickr
And one running in the opposite direction to give an idea of how fast the approach will be...
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1503/...16954366_o.jpgDSC_6688 by Ben, on Flickr
The other piece of advice I always give first time Otago spectators - don't be tempted to leave a spectator point after the NZRC contenders have passed, its always worth staying to watch the classics.
Kuri Bush (SS7 and part of SS2 as well) is an amazing rollercoaster of a road that most drivers in NZ rate as one of their favourites, fast flowing cresty brilliance so worth getting to that one to watch too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PScjE2GuZbw
Great, thanks Ben! Yes I'm definitely planning to stay for the classics, was just wondering about running interval to get an idea of how long it would take for the whole field to pass, thanks for the tips
Some of the roads being used for this year's Rally Otago, don't appear to have the better spectator points some other roads used in past years have.
Go through some of the inboards/ video of past years gives you an idea of where the better spectator points are. Kuri Bush Paddon inboard 2016 - https://youtu.be/PScjE2GuZbw (122km/h , 76 mph average in sub-optimal handling car)
Paddon tends to bring out a few extra spectators by his name being on the entry list.
I would expect the running time to be around 2 hours.
If you can stay another week
D1NZ Drifting at Manfield/ Chris Amon circuit - Feilding North Island NZ the following weekend (just depends if it rains at this time of year could be cancelled)
Timaru circuit drifting in summer. https://youtu.be/rthGVJUXKgY?t=12m
Ostberg in NZ, Paddon appears to have given Mads - kiwi road directions (turn right past the black stump etc)
https://www.facebook.com/MadsOstberg...7708624962742/
Hi Dnx, welcome to NZ. Hope to see you sometime over the weekend. I will private message you some contact details. The big storm that is disrupting travel plans for some teams should have cleared by Wednesday night. Recce on Thursday & Friday likely to be wet. Sunny weather expected on weekend while rally is on.
Ostberg driving Escort RS with a sprinkling of snow around.
https://rallysportmag.com/ostberg-co...f-otago-rally/
Snowing on the shakedown stage.
https://rallysportmag.com/winter-won...lly-shakedown/
Bit of drone footage
https://youtu.be/N3mKic1rulk
Paddon had the heavy gumboot on today.
Day1 - afternoon Classics
https://youtu.be/Jj_ZVRUZiEE
Day 2 - afternoon run to podium. Mads cranking the old rs along.
https://youtu.be/GtpxKfmauxs
Paddon with the heavy right foot driving boot at Otago. Hope he has this reliable pace at Whangarei.
https://youtu.be/s_hbrOu_srI
Aussie Champ 2017 - Nathan Quinn to drive neil allport fiesta r5 at whangarei
https://rallysportmag.com/aussie-cha...-in-fiesta-r5/
Gravel getting depleted in parts of NZ
https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/102...-for-roadworks
Damn that's serious! The gravel roads are a natural (well sorta) national treasure. You've been lucky so far...Many of us up here in a region many say reminds them of NZ we have very limited real gravel..Our roads in the woods are covered in crushed rock, and crushed from BIG rock which we have lots of, but its often igneous rock--volcanic and nasty..And crushed means often its the size of lemons or kiwi fruit. Brutal on the undersides and suspension arms.
wish you guys luck. It would be terrible if they started paving or making the roads tarmac.. yuck!
Silver Fern NZ Classic international gravel rally - is in the North Island this time. From Hamilton down the western part turning across the island at Palmerston North and up the East Coast to Rotorua. The east coast stages could be quite dusty at that time of year.
https://silverfernrally.co.nz/
24th november, 2018
NZ Targa tarmac - main event starts in Invercargill onto to Dunedin and then up to Queenstown. A relatively compact event compared to some targa events held previously.
October 22nd 2018
https://targa.nz/wp-content/uploads/...amme-TNZ18.pdf
Album of my photos from Otago now online here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmgHCnx2
A few samples...
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/906/4...fe6f2bb3_o.jpgDSC_3466 by Ben, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/961/2...109cd15b_o.jpgDSC_3937 by Ben, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/957/4...f43215b4_o.jpgDSC_4285 by Ben, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/946/4...fae0cd25_o.jpgDSC_4307 by Ben, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/959/4...92d223b7_o.jpgDSC_4541 by Ben, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/946/4...500f678a_o.jpgDSC_4666 by Ben, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/912/4...cfb9c860_o.jpgDSC_4809 by Ben, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/909/2...02988eba_o.jpgDSC_5477 by Ben, on Flickr
Can't forget this lumbering old beast being driven with a very impressive level of commitment!
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/977/2...b5ac46cd_o.jpgDSC_4514 by Ben, on Flickr
https://farm1.staticflickr.com/978/2...c7b77c75_o.jpgDSC_5504 by Ben, on Flickr
Eneos sponsorship for Rally Whangarei = Nippon Oil Co
http://www.eneos.us/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JXTG_N...Oil_%26_Energy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/JXTG_Holdings
Reason why Gill and MRF are missing from the Rally Whangarei entry list. Down for up to 6 wrc2 gravel rallies in 2018.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/other...mUtiTc4XP.html
Article on Hawkeswood's 2017 Championship campaign
http://www.zoomzoom.co.nz/autumn-201...ynz-hawkeswood
Rally Whangarei this weekend 4-6th May 2018. Round 2 NZRC and Round 1 of APRC http://www.chrissport.co.nz
Paddon and Peden (co-driver for this rally) fastest on the opening stage.
Thomson marginally faster than Holder (JWRC) in the opening stage. (Fiesta battle)
I have added a whole lot of short Rally Whangarei videos to youtube
https://youtu.be/sJfY8jxbRCk
Good looking entry list for South Canterbury in a couple of weeks, 96 entries including Paddon, Reeves, Quinn and a bunch of the usual suspects. Think I will have to head up with the camera. :)
Some excellent roads too, I learn to drive on some of them.
Talk about fast stages with amazing scenery and great spectating.
Paddon in-car video from South Canterbury. Did the 'Spring Rally' of old use these types of roads? Fast roads: stage one average speed 130.32 km/h (15km) 2- 130.45 km/h (32km) 4- 132.43 km/h (18km) (Crunch used say he did not like tarmac stages because they were too fast, I wonder what he thought of those South Canterbury gravel stages)
https://www.facebook.com/paddonrally...9361156543249/