Kiwi driver Sloan Cox is hoping to end the New Zealand Rally Championship on a high at this weekend's Rally New Zealand.
The event is based out of ASB Baypark Stadium in Tauranga and will see the crews head towards Raglan for Saturday's stages then back to stages south of Tauranga where Sloan Cox first learned to race on at 15.
After gaining second overall at Rally Waitomo the team is aiming to finish the season on a high with another podium result. The Taslo Engineering Mitsubishi Evo X had a few minor problems with the brakes overheating which hindered the team at Rally Waitomo, but the brakes have been overhauled since the last event and new brake ducting installed to keep them cool with the hotter weather.
"I am very excited for the final round of 2017 New Zealand Rally Championship and we are looking forward to a good battle at the top of the field with the championship still on the line and it is great to have WRC driver Hayden Paddon back for this event," Cox said.
"We have not had the best year so far due to mechanical issues, but we have kept our pace.
"We want to finish the year on another high after our podium finish at Rally Waitomo."
Rally New Zealand commences at 5pm on Friday with a ceremonial start and autograph session at The Strand, Tauranga. The action begins at 8.30am on Saturday at the Raglan Airfield with the crews covering 227 km of competitive stages over 12 stages during the weekend.
Sunday will see the crews head into the Manawahe area before concluding with a ceremonial finish at 4.15pm at ASB Baypark Stadium.