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International Rally Provides Overseas Opportunity

BY SARAH BYLES - The NAC Insurance International Rally of Whangarei this weekend will be the only chance for New Zealand rally drivers to shine on the world stage this year on their own turf.

Young drivers especially, will have to take full advantage if they want to be eligible for rallying’s biggest step-up possible, the Pirelli Star Driver award.

Last year’s national champion Hayden Paddon will be a hot favourite again this year after taking out the top Pirelli spot at Whangarei last year.

“We have had good run of results up North the past couple of years and following our win at Otago recently we are feeling confident,” Paddon said. “Whangarei is vitally important for us, especially after our mechanical gremlins in New Caledonia and Queensland this is our last chance to qualify for the Pirelli Star Driver.”

Paddon lost out when it came to the final in Malaysia in 2008 beaten by other Kiwi Mark Tapper, who is representing the country in the European rounds of the Production World Rally Championship now.

This year is the second year of the Pirelli-sponsored award that sees five drivers picked from four FIA regions gain fully paid drives at the top level of competition, but the rules have changed slightly.

Drivers now must qualify for the final; the Asia Pacific’s being Rally Australia in September, by being in the top two at a qualifying rally – or being picked as the wildcard entry.

General manager Paul Mallard says that Mark Tapper winning the award last year has shown what it is for a kiwi to be able to get to the world stage.

“It’s a bit different this year in terms of you have to be nominated at a qualifying event for the final, but it would be great to have a New Zealander competing at the top level when the World Rally Championship returns to New Zealand in 2010. With the unique point scoring formula for Pirelli Star [based on stage placing rather than finish positions] you never know who’s going to be there at the end of the weekend,” says Mallard.

Seven of the 13 entrants in the scholarship at Whangarei will be vying for the top spot for a second time. Entrants include: Hayden Paddon, Australian Brendan Reeves, Sloan Cox, Patrick Malley, Kirsty Nelson, Brad Ayling, Ben Jagger and new comers, Kieran Hall, Matthew Jansen, Daniel Harris, Ben Hunt and Dominick Unterberger.

The prize is worth in excess of a million New Zealand dollars and to compete for the award of a lifetime, drivers must be under 27 years of age.

The NAC Insurance International Rally of Whangarei runs from 5 to 7 June over roads in the Kaipara and Whangarei districts.