Good vantage spots for action

Today is the first competition day of the International Rally of Whangarei and along with that comes a great opportunity for those in the city to get in close to see these cars in action.

Pohe Island and William Fraser Memorial Park once again host two super special stages where the cars along with an international line-up of drivers will battle this stage exhibiting their skills to those watching.

The area has been upgraded to be more spectator friendly, there are more non-rally activities offered and the road used by the cars has changed so there is every reason to get along to check it out and support this part of the event. A modest fee of $10 will offer a lot to see and taking the kids has never been cheaper when those under-15 are free when accompanied by a paying adult.

Cars are expected at 11.32am and 4.17pm today.

And don't forget this is also the second round of the national rally championship so the weekend will be intense as New Zealand's best including past champions Richard Mason and Chris West try to stay one step ahead of New Zealand's very own WRC2 driver Hayden Paddon who has won this event three times already.

My attention will also be on the two car Skoda team featuring drivers Esapekka Lappi from Finland and Gaurav Gill from India.

Lappi is the 2012 Finnish rally champion and is just 22 so has a great future ahead of him. Gill, 10 years older, won the Indian National Rally Championship and is considered the country's best driver.

Gill will have New Zealander Glen MacNeall alongside him as co-driver so there is every reason to support them over the weekend. Other than the off-track entertainment and full throttle excitement of Pohe Island there are plenty of opportunities further afield as the drivers tackle our world class roads with a map available online at www.rallywhangarei.co.nz.

The more casual observer can visit the town basin in Whangarei where you can see the cars up close at the service park while the crews prepare or repair the cars.

Also very popular in past years has been the presentation ceremony on Sunday at the basin where the champagne will be sprayed from the podium and this is a recommended part of the event which is very accessible and starts about 3.15pm.