The 35th Propecia Rally New Zealand takes place this coming weekend - the fourth round out of sixteen in the 2005
FIA World Rally Championship.
NZ will also play host to the second round in the 2005 FIA Production Car WRC.
Commencing on Thursday April 7 with a ceremonial start in the host town of Auckland, the three-day event includes some of the best gravel stages in the WRC.
Special notes:
Contested at low altitude amongst luscious green countryside, Rally New Zealand is renowned as a drivers' rally due to it's fast and flowing roller-coaster-like roads that feature heavily cambered corners.
The smooth gravel surface places few mechanical pressures on cars and the emphasis is on driver performance, flat-out speed and unwavering levels of commitment.
The event requires nerves of steel and natural car control. The trick is to establish a strong rhythm early on and let the car 'flow' from corner to corner.
However, drivers need to ensure they're not caught out by sections of loose gravel or by New Zealand's fickle weather, which in the autumn can change by the hour.
Previously run on stages in both the North and South Islands, Rally NZ now follows a more compact route based only in the North. Comprising three legs and 356 competitive kilometres, the event includes 20 stages and a total distance of 1128.48km.
FIA World Rally Championship news:
Petter Solberg leads the World Rally drivers' championship following back-to-back wins in Sweden and Mexico. The Norwegian is one point ahead of Peugeot's
Markko Martin and three points up on
Toni Gardemeister, who lies third.
In the Constructors' championship meanwhile, Peugeot lead, 8 points up on Ford and Mitsubishi.
News from the Manufacturers' teams:
