Rotorua set for Rally Spectacle

MEDIA RELEASE 8 – For immediate release

Rotorua set for Rally Spectacle

There are many good opportunities for the public to see the action, which will be the Hella International Rally of Rotorua, round 3 of the 2005 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship and also Round 4 of the Parker Enzed New Zealand Rally Championship.

Friday 17th June the rally comes to central Rotorua with a Motorsport Show at City Focus, Tutanekai Street. Central Rotorua will become a colourful array of competition cars and trade displays with the Motorsport Show commencing early morning, incorporating cars from all forms of Motorsport.

All competing cars and crews in both the Hella International Rally of Rotorua and the Waiariki Institute of Technology Clubmans Rally of Rotorua will then report to the pre-start area at City Focus between 12.00noon and 1pm on Friday in the build up to the ceremonial start. This is a great opportunity for the public to rub shoulders with the drivers, grab an autograph or poster and check out the rallycars close up. The first car proceeds over the start ramp at 1pm, flagged away by the cities Mayor Mr Kevin Winters.

The field then heads to a group of three stages at Maniatutu, Rotoehu and Manawahe in the Lake Rotoma area including the spectator’s favourite vantage point at Helicopter Corner on the Manawahe Stage. Cars return to the Village Green on the Rotorua Lakefront for an end of leg service and overnight park.
Leg two Saturday and the cars depart the Rotorua Village Green from 8.00am heading to the infamous Motu region in the eastern Bay of Plenty. Service at Opotiki before the Motu stage is followed by another service at the Matawai Township before the day’s final stages at Whakarau and Rakauroa. The first car returns to the Village Green at 7.30pm.

Sunday’s final leg begins at 7.35am with a service at the Village Green in Rotorua before heading to two stages, Waiotapu Forest and the new spectator friendly Redwoods stage in the Whakarewarewa Forest on the outskirts of Rotorua City. After returning to town for another service at the Village Green, crews will return to the morning’s two stages for a repeat run. The event then concludes with the ceremonial finish back at City Focus in the heart of Rotorua from 2pm where the victory celebrations and the traditional spraying of the champagne will occur.

The event also incorporates the Waiariki Institute of Technology Clubman’s Rally, round 3 of the CPS NZ Limited Top Half Rally Series. This event will follow the APRC field competing on the same roads, with a field of forty competitors expected to take the start in each of the separate events.

Event information including maps and tickets will be available from Tuesday June 14th at Rally Headquarters, Millennium Hotel, Rotorua. Tickets can also be purchased at each of the prime spectator viewing points along the rally route, with up to date event information available on the Hella International Rally of Rotorua website HYPERLINK "http://www.rallyrotorua.co.nz" www.rallyrotorua.co.nz.

All proceeds from ticket sales are shared with local community groups who assist with providing marshals for the event.

ENDS

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