Much to enjoy for rally fans with Brother International Rally of Whangarei
Rally fans can enjoy multiple spectator vantage points to watch New Zealand's best rally drivers take on the cream of the Asia Pacific region during the 30 March to 1 April running of the Brother International Rally of Whangarei.
Grab the rally insert in today's (Wednesday) Northern Advocate for map of all the stages.
RUN OF EVENTS
Sporting manager Willard Martin and his team have identified a number of excellent spectator vantage points on the rural rally stages primarily around the Kaipara region. These add to a number of free and ticketed fan activities taking place in Whangarei.
Half of the revenue from sales of spectator tickets goes back to the local community groups who play such a vital part in the running this event.
* Stay behind fences and in the designated spectator areas.
* The key spectator activities start on Friday with a lunchtime rally car street parade around central Whangarei, then most of the drivers hit the waters of the Quayside Town Basin to tackle the waka challenge.
* Next up on Friday is the driver autograph session in the Cameron Street Mall in central Whangarei. Starting at 3:30 pm, these autograph sessions are always well-attended by rally fans young and not-so-young. Like the official start ceremony which commences at 4:30 pm, the autograph session is free to attend.
* The rally gets underway on Saturday morning with the first competitor departing the Quayside Town Basin service park at 7am.
* Access to all rural spectator points on Saturday and Sunday is gained with a $10-per-adult ticket available from Hirepool Whangarei in Commerce Street, Killer Prawn on Bank Street or, from 29 March on, rally headquarters. Children under the age of 15 are free with a paying adult.
* Saturday's action also includes the popular Whangarei super special stage at Pohe Island with the two runs around the short, sharp special stage.
Practice for the dash for cash starts at 8am and the family fun day gets underway at 10am with the first rally car tackling the sprint around Pohe Island just after 11am. There's also live commentary of rally action, plenty of parking and toilet facilities on-site. Pohe Island tickets are available to pre-purchase from the above outlets or at the gate, and are priced at $10 per adult with children under 15 free.
* On Sunday, the key focus is the famous Hella Bridge prime spectator point on Swamp Road on the Wairere special stage. The first car starts the 18.95 kilometres of the Wairere stage for the first time at 8:26 am.
The Wairere stage runs again from 12:30 pm as part of Sunday's eight stages.
* The 2012 edition of Brother International Rally of Whangarei concludes with a finish ceremony at the Quayside Town Basin from 3pm on Sunday.
The full entry list, current news, spectator and ticket information and rally map are all available on the event website, www.rallywhangarei.co.nz or follow the event on Facebook.
KEY spectator points:
Friday 30 March, 3.30 pm Driver autograph session Cameron Street Mall, Whangarei FREE
Friday 30 March, 4.30 pm Ceremonial Start Cameron Street Mall, Whangarei FREE
All weekend Service Parks Quayside Town Basin, Whangarei FREE
All weekend Gold Pass for all special stages, including Whangarei super special stage at Pohe Island and Lions Club family fun day $30/adult
Saturday 31 March Day pass for rural special stages (not including Whangarei super special stage) $10/adult
Saturday 31 March Pass for Whangarei super special stage at Pohe Island and Lions Club family fun day $10/adult
Sunday 1 April Day pass for rural special stages $10/adult
Sunday 1 April, 3.00 pm Ceremonial Finish Quayside Town Basin, Whangarei FREE
Children under 15 years of age, accompanied by an adult FREE to all ticketed areas