Rally New Zealand is a great event and hugely popular with spectators and competitors alike. Lets hope it’s back in 2012 and gets the sort of Government commitment the Rugby World Cup attracted. Rally NZ runs on a tiny budget, staffed largely by volunteers, the return on investment is huge and it has the potential to happen every couple of years.
Fortieth Rally New Zealand one of the very best - Rally New Zealand - 6-9 May 2010
“With the dust now well dampened after the 40th running of Rally New Zealand at the beginning of May, organising committee members with many years of experience running the international event said it was one of the very best events of this name ever run…”
”Carr says organisers’ best estimates of spectatornumbers indicate around 95,000 people went out to watch at least one aspect of this year’s Rally New Zealand.
“The crowd in Auckland Domain on the Friday evening was phenomenal! A good 25,000 people were there enjoying the action as world’s best drivers blasted through the night-time special stage on roads right in central Auckland. The Auckland Museum was a real showcase for Auckland, looking absolutely fantastic with its new lights.” “
“Saturday’s two super special stages ran at the new
Hampton Down motorsport complex midway between Auckland and Hamilton, complemented by a variety of other races, displays and activities, and drew a crowd of around 15,000 fans. Other event venues – the service park on Auckland’s waterfront Queens Wharf, the start and finish ceremonies in Viaduct Harbour and the three days of special stages throughout the Whangarei, Kaipara, Franklin, North Waikato and Raglan districts – attracted approximately 55,000 people over the whole event”
Ford have celebrated their win with this video which features on the new Ford World Rally Team YouTube Channel
(Video by Ford, the Photos are all by me)
