Rally New Zealand organisers are buzzing with the news today that international fans will be welcomed into the country when the FIA World Rally Championship returns later this year.
The World Rally Championship will be one of the first global sporting codes to host an event in New Zealand following today’s announcement by the Government that border restrictions will be lifted.
It means that the FIA World Rally Championship can return with certainty and host the 11th round of the 2022 world championship in and around Auckland from 29 September to 2 October.
“Rally New Zealand will attract close to 1,000 competitors, team personnel, media and organisers to New Zealand. With the news today that the border will reopen we can’t wait to also welcome motorsport fans from around the world to Auckland.” said Rally New Zealand CEO Michael Goldstein.
“We have a specialist Rally Tours partner and encourage our international fans to get in contact to ensure their visit to Auckland and New Zealand is a memorable one. With ten years between world championship rounds we look forward to welcoming new generations of motorsport fans down under to watch the world’s best drivers compete on the world’s best rally roads.”
Fans attending the World Rally Championship round in Auckland this September can purchase limited early bird Rally Gold Pass tickets now at www.rallynewzealand.com.International fans are encouraged to visit www.wrctoursnz.com to enquire about a customised tour package where through the official tour partner they’ll see the very best of Rally New Zealand.
Hyundai New Zealand is backing Kiwi rally star Hayden Paddon to compete in this year’s WRC Rally New Zealand in Auckland, part of the FIA World Rally Championship.
His long-time backers, Hyundai New Zealand have also signed on as elite sponsors of the event which returns to the World Rally Championship for the 32nd time, to be staged in and around Auckland from 29 September to 2 October.
Paddon and long-time co-driver John Kennard will compete in a Hyundai i20N Rally2 car in selected events of the WRC2 category of the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship under the Hyundai New Zealand Rally banner. They will extend to a full seven-event campaign in 2023 aimed at winning the WRC2 Championship.
The team’s 2022 WRC2 schedule gets underway at Rally Estonia which runs 14-17 July, followed by Rally Finland 4-7 August before returning to contest Rally New Zealand.
Hayden Paddon and Hyundai New Zealand are backing this year’s Rally New Zealand event.
“I can’t wait to compete on the awesome roads of Rally New Zealand again and show what the Rally2 car is capable of,” said Paddon.
The announcement of Hyundai New Zealand and Paddon’s WRC2 campaign comes at the same time as Hyundai New Zealand announced its support of the 2022 running of Rally New Zealand.
Paddon adds: “Without the support of Hyundai New Zealand, both our WRC2 campaign and the general health of rallying in New Zealand would not be where it is today, so I am hugely humbled for their faith in us to attempt to bring home a world title. And, of course, the return of WRC Rally New Zealand will be exciting for everyone, being a key ‘must do’ sporting event in New Zealand this year.”
Looking ahead to Rally New Zealand at the end of September, Chris Blair, General Manager of Hyundai New Zealand, is looking forward to a stronger Hyundai presence at this iconic, world-class event.
“This will be the first Rally New Zealand that Hyundai will compete in with not one, but two Hyundai teams – Hyundai Motorsport in WRC1 and Hyundai New Zealand Rally in WRC2,” says Blair.
“It’s set to be a really exciting year for Hyundai New Zealand with our announcement that we’re competing in a two-year WRC2 campaign with Hayden, John and the team, as well as sponsoring Rally New Zealand, an event we are so excited to see return to our shores.”
Hyundai New Zealand has been committed to rallying in New Zealand for many years and Rally New Zealand organisers are thrilled to have their support, along with Paddon acting as an ambassador for the event and competing on his home turf.
“The team at Hyundai New Zealand have been right behind us every step of the way as we’ve lobbied to bring the WRC back to New Zealand and we’re hugely grateful for their persistence and ongoing support through some challenging times,” says Michael Goldstein, CEO Rally New Zealand.
“We are all full of admiration for their ambition to create a kiwi team that will take on the world of rallying. We wish Hyundai New Zealand Rally Team and Hayden the very best of luck and hope they come into Rally New Zealand, Auckland with some great results under their belt.”
Limited Rally Gold Pass tickets to Rally New Zealand are available now at www.rallynewzealand.com
Organisers today are excited to announce to our loyal fansthat Gold Pass tickets for Rally New Zealand will go on sale this Wednesday.
This week Gold Pass tickets to Rally New Zealand have been launched to the public with limited early bird tickets priced at $185. A Gold Pass includes access to all spectator areas on every day of Rally New Zealand including priority viewing areas and priority parking throughout the event.
Motorsport fans are encouraged to get in quick to secure their gold pass tickets to Rally New Zealand in its highly anticipated return to the FIA World Rally Championship calendar, to be held in Auckland from September 29 to October 2.
“We are excited to launch our gold pass tickets for Rally New Zealand and we look forward to welcoming fans to a festival of rallying in Auckland later this year,” said Michael Goldstein, CEO of Rally New Zealand.
“Gold Pass holders will have access across the entire event – with our route set to be announced in the coming weeks. If you’re traveling for the rally this is the ticket for you, with priority viewing and parking throughout the event.”
Additionally, Rally New Zealand is thrilled to welcome ALL – Accor Live Limitless as the official accommodation partner for the event.
ALL joins the growing family of sponsors backing Rally New Zealand and with 12 14 Auckland properties is set to throw the doors open to literally thousands of motorsport fans this September.
“Our Accor hotels are thrilled to support WRC Rally New Zealand. After over two years, it’s fantastic to be welcoming back events to Auckland and showcasing New Zealand to the world. We look forward to welcoming guests to stay and experience such an internationally renowned event,” said Iain Ganner, Regional Director of Sales and Marketing, Accor New Zealand“.
“With hotels across Auckland, Accor Live Limitless is a perfect partner for the event. Collectively we look forward to welcoming not only the 800-strong contingent amongst the WRC teams but also thousands of spectators set to travel to Auckland to stay at Accor when visiting our event, ” said Goldstein.
“After the huge disruption to major events over the last two years, we’re looking forward to welcoming thousands of visitors from across New Zealand and around the world to what promises to be a sensational major event to celebrate Auckland’s reconnection to the world.”
Further announcements about the route for Rally New Zealand along with daily ticket options will be made in the coming months.
Fans attending the World Rally Championship round in Auckland this September will able to purchase tickets and VIP packages directly from Rally New Zealand thanks to an exclusive partnership announced today with Flicket.
The disruptive white-label ticketing and data solutions provider has signed an exclusive deal with Rally New Zealand to help deliver this historic homecoming of the World Rally Championship.
“We are excited to partner with an ambitious New Zealand owned and operated company that has a strong focus on providing excellent customer experiences,” said Michael Goldstein, CEO of Rally New Zealand.
“Flicket enables us to directly connect with our fans whilst giving us the ability to activate our data in a smarter and more effective way.”
Flicket Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Ben Calvert, says “The team is thrilled to be working with Rally New Zealand. It’s clear they have a focus on delivering a world-class experience for all involved and we are proud to play our part.”
First ticket release is tomorrow at 8pm via www.rallynewzealand.com where fans will be able to buy their Rally Gold Pass providing access throughout the event.
WRC Rally New Zealand Launches The Ultimate Fan Prize. WRC Rally New Zealand is excited to launch pre-registration for our Rally Gold Pass tickets where one lucky fan could with the ultimate VIP experience.
Fans are encouraged to register now to have first access to tickets, with limited numbers of Rally Gold Passes set to go on sale on the 3rd of March. Every fan that pre-registers will automatically go in the draw to win an incredible VIP experience at Rally New Zealand including flights, rental car, accommodation at an Accor Hotel, and VIP tickets.
Pre-register via the link below and share via social – the more your share, the more chance you have to win! To earn points as a top rally fan, refer friends, follow and get access to limited presale tickets, top point scorers unlock prizes!
The Rally New Zealand team are fizzed to send you this ticket offer, make sure you have 29 September, 2022 etched in your diaries! Ultimate VIP Experience – Flights for two people from anywhere in NZ – 3 nights accommodation thanks to Accor – Car rental – VIP tickets to Rally New Zealand Auckland
Rally New Zealand Auckland is set to make its 32nd appearance on the WRC – FIA World Rally Championship calendar. A decade since it was last staged and two years after the pandemic prevented an historic return of Rally New Zealand, Auckland has been confirmed to host a round of the 2022 World Rally Championship across its region.
Outstanding Kiwi driver Emma Gilmour today signed on as the first driver to commit to WRC Rally New Zealand in Auckland, part of the FIA World Rally Championship this year.
The WRC will return for the 32nd time to New Zealand with the 11th round of the 2022 world championships to be staged in and around Auckland from 29 September to 2 October.
Gilmour, is one of New Zealand’s best rally drivers having finished runner-up in the New Zealand Rally Championships three times, and was the first female to win a round of the championship along with being a runner-up in a round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship.
Along with Gilmour is the announcement that her long-time sponsor Vantage Windows & Doors (a brand of APL Window Solutions) has signed on as the event’s first elite sponsor.
The company has supported rallying in New Zealand for more than 25 years including past versions of WRC Rally New Zealand. They also back two-time national champion Ben Hunt.
“It is very fitting for Emma to sign on as our first entry, not just because of her successful background in the sport but also as she begins an exciting global role as driver for the famous McLaren Racing in the global Extreme E Series,” said WRC Rally New Zealand Auckland chairman, Peter Johnston.
“Our team is hard at work planning for a return of the WRC to the best rally roads in the world, but we need the support of drivers like Emma, and of course her sponsors Vantage who are such wonderful supporters of our sport.
“An event like the WRC and our sport just does not happen without the backing and generosity of brands like Vantage.”
Gilmour is equally pleased with the return of the WRC to Auckland.
“It’s very exciting to have the pinnacle of world rallying returning to New Zealand. It’s a cliché line but our roads are the best in the world to rally on. They’re smooth – so they don’t break the car, the roads have camber which allows the car a lot more grip and gives the best sensation when dancing the car at high speed from corner to corner and jumping over the camber,” said Gilmour.
“We have great support for the event with a huge motorsport passion in New Zealand so there will be lots of fans out on the stages.”
Gilmour acknowledges that she owes much to the support from Vantage.
“I feel very honoured to represent such a great New Zealand brand who has supported me through both the highs and the lows of my career to date.”
Group CEO Craig Vincent (head of the APL group), former co-driver for the late Possum Bourne, said his company is delighted to support both the drivers and the event.
“Emma has represented the brand for 17 years and the Vantage WRC car has become a bit of a cult with the fans and more recently Ben Hunt has also joined the Vantage team,” said Vincent.
“We are very proud to be coming on board to assist bringing the WRC back to New Zealand as a major sponsor this year.
“High performance sports are very much a part of the Vantage high performance brand and DNA as we support many sporting codes in New Zealand. Much of this support goes all the way down to grassroots level and to provide for events like the World Rally Championship that bring the public out to watch and enjoy.”
Pre-registration for tickets is now open for the event by signing up to GRAVEL at www.rallynewzealand.com.
Rally New Zealand is today excited to announce the exclusive WRC Club experience where businesses and fans can experience the very best of the event to be held in Auckland this September.
The WRC Club is an exclusive hospitality experience where fans can enjoy Rally New Zealand from the best seat in the house.
The WRC Club package will ensure VIP treatment, behind the scenes access and mixing and mingling with the stars. It includes VIP invites to the Legends of Rally gala dinner, the ceremonial start in downtown Auckland, a money-can’t-buy ride in a rally car at the sensational Jacks Ridge stage as well as VIP access to live action throughout the event.
“We can’t wait to host our WRC Club members throughout the week of Rally New Zealand” Rally New Zealand Chairman Peter Johnston said. “We’re well underway with our planning and Rally New Zealand is set to be a multiple day spectacle of motorsport that brings motorsport to the people. We are looking forward to hosting the WRC Club members in a way that will ensure they experience the very best of the event”.
With limited WRC Club memberships available interested parties are encouraged to get in quickly to secure a spot.
The World Rally Championship returns to New Zealand for the first time in a decade from September 28 to October 2nd this year. The event will see the best gravel drivers in the world descend on some of the most iconic roads seen in the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship season.
Rally New Zealand will be broadcast throughout more than 150 countries and with an expected audience of more than 70 million television viewers will be one of the most watched sporting events in New Zealand’s history.
The route for Rally New Zealand will be finalised in the coming weeks along with the service park location and other event details.
Star drivers and pioneering new hybrid cars delivered a high-voltage introduction to the 2022 FIA World Rally Championship in Austria on Saturday evening.
The WRC’s ground-breaking new-generation of Rally1 cars from the three manufacturers gathered for the first time in Salzburg’s landmark Hangar-7 as the 2022 season was launched five days before the opening round at Rallye Monte-Carlo (20 – 23 January).
In the presence of FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem, reigning champions Toyota Gazoo Racing, Hyundai Motorsport and M-Sport Ford revealed their stunning all-new cars which will compete across 13 rounds on four continents.
Among those attending were Toyota’s 2021 championship runner-up Elfyn Evans and team-mate Kalle Rovanperä, who became the youngest WRC rally winner in history last season. Also present were Hyundai lead drivers Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak. New M-Sport Ford signing Craig Breen appeared alongside the team’s hotly-tipped youngster, Adrien Fourmaux.
In the championship’s 50th season, the WRC will undergo major environmental changes as new FIA technical regulations drive the series towards a more sustainable future.
Plug-in hybrid-powered cars built around an upgraded safety cell chassis, 100 per cent fossil-free fuel and sustainable energy supplies are key to the sport’s commitment to a greener future.
The new hybrid challengers blend a 100kW electric motor with a competition-proven 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine, which has powered the sport’s top-tier cars since 2011.
The package raises peak performance levels to more than 500hp whilst also reducing harmful emissions.
President Ben Sulayem, a former WRC competitor himself, said: “Today’s launch of the new Rally1 era is a very proud and significant moment for the FIA and entire rally family and I would like to congratulate WRC Promoter for delivering a great show at the start of the championship’s 50th anniversary season.
“The enthusiasm for the FIA’s new technical regulations has been very much in evidence in recent months and the event further underlined the momentum coming from the teams and manufacturers, with Rallye Monte-Carlo just a few days away.
“Beside the hybrid technology adding a new dynamic layer of performance combined with safety improvements, Rally1 cars will be using 100 per cent sustainable fuel and work is also ongoing to achieve greater sustainability in the organisation of each round of the series. I look forward to an exciting season!”
WRC Promoter managing director Jona Siebel welcomed the start of a ‘landmark period’ for the championship.
“Tonight we’ve seen what the future of the WRC looks like,” he added. “I applaud the manufacturers’ hard work and commitment in readying these amazing and innovative Rally1 cars for the WRC’s new era.
“This evening was a marvellous opportunity to showcase the WRC and exhibit the strong desire to create an environment where both fiercely competitive motorsport and the planet can thrive together.”
Rally New Zealand is set to make its 32nd appearance on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar.
A decade since it was last staged and two years after the pandemic prevented an historic return of Rally New Zealand, today Auckland has been confirmed to host a round of the 2022 World Rally Championship*.
In a major morale-boost to a city currently in Alert Level 3 lockdown, the WRC Promoter has today confirmed Auckland will host the 11th round of the 2022 world championship from September 29 to October 2 next year.
With the country currently working towards opening up its borders, the return of the WRC will be a massive coup for rally fans across the country.
“We are absolutely delighted to share this terrific news with rally fans and the wider community,” Rally New Zealand chairman Peter Johnston said.
“We have worked so hard and waited so long for this moment. We got agonisingly close to having the WRC return last year before COVID interrupted and so this feels so rewarding knowing we will get to run one of the country’s most iconic sporting events once again.
“We are so grateful the WRC Promoter has decided to bring the championship back to New Zealand and can’t wait to get working on the finer details in the coming months.”
Johnston hailed the support from Auckland Unlimited as being key to getting the WRC back.
“Auckland Unlimited have been tremendous supporters of our plans for the past few years. It is going to be fantastic making Auckland the centre of the rallying and motorsport world in September and October next year.
“I also want to acknowledge the support MotorSport New Zealand has given us throughout this process. It has been a team effort securing this opportunity.”
* Subject to contract
Throughout the pandemic, increasing numbers of fans from around the world have tuned in to follow the World Championship action – the WRC now has a huge annual audience of more than 800 million viewers and billions of online impressions.
WRC Promoter managing director Jona Siebel said the championship is looking forward to making its way back to New Zealand.
“Next year marks the WRC’s 50th season and I’m delighted to welcome back New Zealand, a rally which first appeared on the calendar in 1977,” Siebel said.
“The gravel roads there are a drivers’ delight and, although our plans to return in 2020 were unfortunately derailed by COVID-19, it’s fantastic we can now push through with those.”
Richard Clarke, Head of Major and Business Events at Auckland Unlimited, said the prospect of another world-class event coming to Auckland is exciting.
“Motorsport has a celebrated history in New Zealand and no doubt fans from around the country will welcome this news.”
“We are excited about the opportunity to partner with WRC and our final agreement will deliver a diverse range of benefits for Auckland – from building on the unique sustainability story developed at the Jacks Ridge venue, to continuing our positive relationship with the local community and iwi, and providing another exciting event opportunity for locals and visitors to enjoy Tāmaki Makaurau,” Clarke said.
New Zealand’s premier driver Hayden Paddon, the only driver from the southern hemisphere to ever win a WRC event, was ecstatic upon hearing the news and has been made the event’s official ambassador.
“It is so satisfying knowing New Zealand will get to host a round of the WRC again, especially after the disappointment of missing out last year,” Paddon said.
“It has long been a dream of mine to compete against the world’s best here in my own backyard.
“It is a great day for Kiwi rally fans, and I am so thrilled to have a role to play.”
Work will begin immediately on planning the specific details of the event.
“Now we have confirmation from the FIA, Rally New Zealand is looking for a naming partner to join us on the ride,” Johnston added.
“We welcome interested companies to reach out to us.”
Tickets will be on sale in the coming months and fans are encouraged to sign up to Gravel Fan Club via www.rallynewzealand.com for all event updates.
Organisers of the Repco Battle of Jacks Ridge have made the difficult decision to cancel the second edition of the popular event due to the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions.
It had originally been set to run in November, but the prolonged Auckland lockdown forced a postponement to 5-6 February 2022, which Rally New Zealand thought would attract the 10,000 fans to the iconic venue.
However, with Auckland moving into the government’s COVID Protection Framework red level and with no guaranteed date of when we would see a move to orange, the level required to run a large-scale event, the commercial risk became too great to continue with preparing for the event.
“We considered holding off until the next government announcement on December 13 to see if there was a confirmed date that Auckland would move into orange,” event manager Paul Fallon said. “However, with the information provided and the likelihood of Auckland remaining in red for the next few weeks, we felt it was important to give the many competitors and fans who had purchased tickets a decision, as they have travel and accommodation arrangements that need to be cancelled or changed, and many would appreciate refunds prior to Christmas.”
Although this decision is disappointing for the fans, all tickets will be automatically refunded by the ticket fairy team in the coming 7 days. The news gets better however, all those who had purchased tickets will automatically be invited to preferential pre-sale tickets in the New Year for the Jacks Ridge Power Stage in October’s WRC Rally New Zealand event.
The Rally New Zealand team won’t be putting their feet up for summer as they will now turn their attention onto the massive task ahead of pulling together the 32nd visit of the World Rally Championship to New Zealand.
