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As the summer fades in early March, New Zealand's highways and back roads will echo with the throaty roar of the largest field of luxury and performance cars this country has ever seen - Devil's Run.
Covering the 1600km from Auckland to Queenstown in three days, Devils Run is a five-star road adventure designed to provide New Zealand's luxury and performance car enthusiasts with a moveable feast of top-flight dining, luxury accommodation and superb entertainment, while traversing the most stunning scenery in the world.
The tour is the brainchild of entrepreneur and petrolhead Max Fletcher, joint winner of the last year's Cannonball 8000 - a 3000km rally from London to Rome - and director of performance car dealership The Toy Shop.
Fletcher describes winning the Cannonball as the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
"It was an absolute blast and I wanted to bring the same sort of experience to our fair shores," Fletcher says.
"For a good dose of horsepower and hedonism, there'll be nothing that can touch Devil's Run.
Drivers will leave Auckland on February 28 and arrive in Millbrook Resort, near Queenstown, on March 2, taking in a series of luxury locations and experiences along the way.
The route between each location is up to the participants.
Devil's Run is not a race and there are no prizes for coming first, although there are prizes for getting into the spirit of the event and having a good time, Fletcher says. "We are warning all participants to stay within the speed limit and treat other road users with every courtesy."
Tickets went on sale this month. The earlybird ticket price is $4995 for the first 45 entrants. For everyone else it is $5995 and places are limited to 120.
So now is the time to step on it and sign up for the ultimate Kiwi road trip, Fletcher says. Good food, great company, the most stunning automotive machinery in New Zealand, and plenty of open road.
