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2006
Hella International Rally of Rotorua
26th - 28th May 2006
Media
Release 1 – For immediate release
International Rally Sponsor
Lights up Rotorua AGAIN!!
Long time event sponsor Hella New Zealand Ltd have
once again confirmed their continued support of the event and will
be the naming rights sponsor for 2006. International rallying
returns to the city of Rotorua in May with the ninth annual running
of the Hella International Rally of Rotorua.
Chairman Laurie Brenssell says “ We are delighted
to have the continued support of Hella New Zealand Ltd. Planning is
well underway with a few new innovations for 2006”
The
event, which is a round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship
and also the New Zealand Rally Championship, will run from May 26th
– 28th incorporating a compact 2-day format. The event will commence
from City Focus in the heart of Rotorua City on the evening of Friday
May 26th with the traditional ceremonial start and motorsport
show.
Competition will begin the following morning with
drivers heading to the infamous Motu stages via the popular Manawahe
stage with the spectator’s favourite vantage spot at Helicopter
Corner, and a new stage at Stanley Road between Whakatane and Opotiki.
Cars and crew will then have a chance to regroup and
service at Opotiki prior to tackling the world famous Motu Road. For
2006 the demanding 49 kilometre gorge road will be split into two
tests, the first a fast sprint from the coast at Opotiki high into
the Eastern Bay of Plenty ranges, with the second winding its way
along the spectacular ridges before descending the valley to finish
at the Motu settlement.
Service at Matawai will be followed by the Whakarau
and Raukoroa stages, with crews then returning to the overnight park
at the Village Green on the Rotorua Lakefront. .
Leg 2 on Sunday will be based around a
service park in Rotorua City with four special stages providing the
public with great viewing opportunities.
The event concludes with the victory celebrations
on the finish ramp at City Focus in the heart of Rotorua City on the
afternoon of Sunday 28th May.
The event will again pitch international drivers from
the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship against New Zealand’s
best drivers contesting the Parker Enzed New Zealand Rally Championship.
The APRC is contested over seven rounds with events in Australia,
New Caledonia, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, China and Rotorua. Leading
entries are expected to include 2005 rally winner and Production World
Rally Champion Toshi Arai of Japan, former APRC Champion Malaysia’s
Karamjit Singh and current National Rally Champion Richard Mason of
Masterton.
The Hella International Rally of Rotorua is the largest
annual sporting event in the Bay of Plenty Region. The 2005 event
injected an estimated $5.3 million into the local economy, generating
1500 motel bed nights with an event attendance of 10,000 people. This
in addition to the 1.2 billion television audience broadcasted throughout
Asia, Europe and the United States.
In addition to the excitement of international rallying,
the organisers will repeat the popular Waiariki Institute of Technology
Clubman’s Rally, which incorporates a round of the Top Half
Regional rally championship.
Japanese driver Toshi Arai on his way to winning the
2005 Hella International Rally of Rotorua.
For
further information contact:
Laurie
Brenssell
Event
Chairman
Ph:
021 929 023
Event
Website: www.rallyrotorua.co.nz
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