Rally cars and drivers delight local kids

GOIN' CRUISIN': Whangarei mayor Sheryl Mai goes for a ride with a current Asia-Pacific Rally champion Gaurav Gill in his Skodia Fabia S2000 at the Pohe Island shakedown for the Rally of Whangarei. PHOTO/JOHN STONE

International Rally of Whangarei is on

The loud roar of the engines of rally cars was no match for the delighted shrieks of hundreds of primary school children.

Nine rally drivers arrived at Whangarei Primary School yesterday morning with precious cargo - three of the school's students, and six of their family and friends.

When the cars arrived on the school field, students flocked around the drivers asking for autographs and photos, before coming together to perform the school song.

Zachary Collier, 7, Nathaniael Puncheon, 10, and Pae-Marie Kaipo, 10, got to choose two friends or siblings to get a ride to school in a rally car after winning a poster competition put on by Classic Hits Northland.

Pae-Marie Kaipo got to be a passenger in the car of one of her favourite rally drivers, Emma Gilmour.

"I had to wear a harness and headphones so we could speak to and hear each other," Pae-Marie said.

"It felt really amazing and fast, and we took selfies in the car once we were stopped."

Dunedin-based driver Gilmour said it's always nice to take kids along in the cars.

"It reminds you how cool it is, what we actually do. And it's nice to put a smile on the kids' faces," she said.

Eleven-year-old Ikaika Puncheon got a ride with his favourite driver, Phil Campbell.

"It went really, really fast and pushed me backwards," the Year 7 Whangarei Intermediate student said.

From the school the drivers headed off to Pohe Island for the Shakedown - the official session offering all rally competitors the opportunity to test their cars before the event.

For Whangarei teenager Wiremu Taka it was a ride of a life time when he got to take part in the Shakedown.

While the 16-year-old looked pensive on the start line he was all smiles after the thrilling spin round the track. Wiremu had never done anything like it before and especially liked the speed at which the rally car burst out of the blocks.

His parents were there to watch him take the ride and reckoned their son was pretty pleased when he got out.

Another punter who got to experience the official Shakedown was Mayor Sheryl Mai who climbed from a car and exclaimed: "That's the best one minute's fun I've ever had."

From the Shakedown drivers moved to the signing session at Whangarei's Cameron Street Mall from 3.30pm.

That was followed by a ceremonial start - including the welcoming of international guests.

The competitive stages begin on Saturday morning, with drivers from countries such as India, Japan, China and the Czech Republic along with Australia and New Zealand contesting 14 special stages across Northland's fast and flowing roads.

Departing Whangarei from 7.55am on Sunday, teams head to classic rally stages including Brooks, Millbrook and Springfield. A mid-morning service back at the Town Basin Service Park in Whangarei, followed by a repeat run of these three stages completes the 220.87km of competitive distance of the event.

For more rally coverage see pages 11 and 18.