Best of old and new for international rally

TESTING: India's Gaurav Gill puts his Skoda Fabia S2000 through its paces on stage four of the 2015 International Rally of Whangarei. PHOTO/JOHN STONE

Sixteen Special Stages across 275km of the World's best gravel rally roads await competitors when the 2016 International Rally of Whangarei comes to town from April 29 to May 1.

The fast cambered roads of the north will host the tenth consecutive edition of the opening round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally championship, and the second round of the 2016 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship.

"We've got a great mix of the iconic Northland roads from past World Championship Rally New Zealand events, along with the new roads to the North of Whangarei we've recently introduced to the itinerary which competitors have really enjoyed," event director Willard Martin said.

The competition will start in central Whangarei with the Hella Pohe Island Super Special Stage at Pohe Island.

Competitors will then tackle two runs over the 1.25km spectator stage under lights providing a spectacular evening of rally action to kick-start the event.

Leg one continues north of Whangarei for eight special stages, revisiting some of the new roads used in last year's event that proved popular with competitors and spectators.

The 14km Helena Bay test starting on the Northern Coastline before heading up and over a twisting hillclimb and narrow ridge line will be the feature test of the day, also doubling as the Power Stage for the National Championship crews.

Lunchtime service at the new Central Service Park in Whangarei at the Toll Stadium is followed by a repeat afternoon loop of these signature Northland tests.

Leg two the next day heads south and west of Whangarei, beginning with the demanding Springfield test - 29km of roller coaster gravel roads ending on Ruarangi Road.

Followed by stages at Waiotira and Tangihua, Day Two's competition takes in former roads from the World Championship Rally New Zealand events, holding a lot of history and also the fast cambered sections famous of the Northland region.

"We receive fantastic support from the city and residents of Whangarei and Far North districts which enables New Zealand to host a round of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship on these wonderful roads. Time and time again international drivers rate the experience of competing on the Whangarei stages as among the absolute best in the world," Martin added.

The International Rally of Whangarei has hosted many of the world's best teams and drivers, with recent visitors to the event including American Superstar Ken Block, and New Zealand World Rally Championship driver Hayden Paddon, who is a three time winner of the event.