The organisers of the Rally New Zealand have revealed that the
Suzuki World Rally Team is considering entering a third SX4 WRC car on the Hamilton-based event.
Although entries for the eleventh round in the World Rally Championship don't close until July 23, a month before the rally, the organisers believe Kiwi rally fans will see one of the largest fields of WRC cars in some years.
"New to the WRC this year, Suzuki has confirmed SX4 WRC entries for
Toni Gardemeister and PG Andersson, with talk of a third," noted chairman of the organising committee Chris Carr.
"
Citroen meanwhile confirmed entries for their top drivers
Sebastien Loeb and Dani Sordo some time ago. The pair will be joined by Zimbabwean
Conrad Rautenbach and now a fourth Citroen for
Urmo Aava is coming.
"
Mikko Hirvonen and
Jari-Matti Latvala are entered for the
BP Ford team, while the
Stobart and Munchi's Ford teams have another five drivers such as
Gigi Galli,
Henning Solberg and
Matthew Wilson.
"New Zealand rally fans can see
Subaru's new Impreza WRC2008 car in action for the first time too as
Petter Solberg and
Chris Atkinson strive for improved performances."
Running behind the WRC cars will be the Production Car World Rally Championship competitors in Group N, or essentially standard production cars. 22 PWRC entries have been confirmed including defending PWRC champion Toshi Arai in a new Subaru partnered by Glenn Macneall, who replaces Kiwi Tony Sircombe.
"Also confirmed is flying Finn Juho Hanninen in the Ralliart New Zealand-run Mitsubishi, the Peugeot Sport Sweden Team who will be bringing the first Super 2000 car we've seen here, and a number of other teams running Mitsubishi Evo Xs," Carr added.
"Seeded in the PWRC field will be two Kiwis – Chris West and Hayden Paddon – who have won this year's Repco Rally New Zealand scholarship for free entry into this class [see separate story].
