Mount driver David Holder back in action at Goldrush Rally

TOP SEEDS: New Zealand rally champion David Holder, left, and co-driver Jason Farmer. PHOTO: FILE

Defending New Zealand Rally champions David Holder and Jason Farmer make their return to the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship in round four at the Mahindra Goldrush Rally Coromandel in Whitianga tomorrow.

After a two-round deal to campaign the Hyundai i20 AP4+ car at the start of the season, Holder was left on the sidelines for the third round at Rally Canterbury in June.

He returns to the series taking the wheel of a 20-year old GC8 Impreza.

Holder acknowledges not having the latest technology will probably lessen his chances of outright victory but he is confident of securing a solid result in one of the strongest fields seen at a national championship round in recent history.

The Mount Maunganui driver also applauds the continued support of vehicle inspection specialists Vinz while welcoming backing from tyre-maker MRF and Goldfields Automotive Group for the event.

"It's great to be back behind the wheel. We did a few kilometres over the weekend and that was the first time being in a car since Rally Whangarei in April," Holder said.

"There really are a huge amount of people we have to thank for the opportunity to be back on the stages this weekend. Obviously being in an older car means we may struggle to battle for the top spots, but the car goes pretty well and the car we won the championship in last year was more than 10 years old, so Jase [Farmer] and I will certainly be giving it our best shot."

The Mahindra Goldrush Rally Coromandel sees teams leave the Mercury Bay Sports Park from 7am tomorrow with teams taking on 125km of special stages all over the Coromandel Peninsula before returning to the finish in Whitianga's Blacksmith Lane from 5pm.