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2006
Hella International Rally of Rotorua
26th - 28th May 2006
MEDIA
RELEASE 3 – For immediate release
New
Zealand’s Best Roads for Hella International Rally
Competitors
in the ninth annual running of the 2006 Hella International Rally
of Rotorua will face two legs of competition on what are widely
regarded as New Zealand’s best rally stages. The format for round
two of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship will again include
the smooth flowing public road stages in the Eastern Bay of Plenty
region, which are world renowned as being real driver favourites.
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. The competitive
action begins the following morning with drivers heading to the
popular Manawahe stage running on the roads surrounding Lake Rotoma.
This special stage includes the spectator’s favourite vantage spot
at Helicopter Corner. Manawahe is followed by a new stage at Stanley
Road between Whakatane and Opotiki.
Cars and crews will then have a chance to refuel at
Opotiki prior to tackling the world famous Motu Road. The demanding
49-kilometre gorge road starts with a fast sprint from the coast
at Opotiki high into the Eastern Bay of Plenty ranges, where the
road winds its way along spectacular ridgelines. After tackling
the mid-stage water crossing the road descends the valley to finish
at the Motu settlement. A real test for drivers, co-drivers and
their cars, the Motu always plays a crucial role in the outcome
of the event.
Service at the Matawai Village will be followed by
the Whakarau and Raukoroa stages, with an afternoon service again
at the Matawai service park. The final stage of the opening leg
is a repeat run of the 32km Whakarau stage. Crews then return to
the overnight park at the Village Green on the Rotorua Lakefront.
.
Leg 2 on Sunday will be based around a service park
at the Village Green on the Rotorua Lakefront with three stages
at Pinnacles, Maniatutu, and Lake Rotoma, all to be used twice.
These three repeated stages are all on smooth flowing roads providing
a fast and furious finish to the event. The final days competition
has been designed with easy spectator access, with the stages only
being a short distance from Rotorua City.
The
event concludes with the victory celebrations on the finish ramp
at the Village Green on the Rotorua Lakefront on the afternoon of
Sunday 28th
Event
Chairman Laurie Brenssell commented, “This year’s format has been
designed to provide a real challenge to both national and international
competitors, while providing a spectacle to the many rally fans
who will flock to the event. Saturday will be a challenge of endurance
and survival with the Motu stages, while Sunday will be a fast race
to the finish.”
Rotorua driver Dean Sumner tackles a water crossing on one of the
world famous Motu stages.
Photo: Macspeed,
Alan MacDonald
For
further information contact:
Laurie
Brenssell
Hella
International Rally of Rotorua
Phone:
09 276 0882 Website: www.rallyrotorua.co.nz
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