Rotorua's Sloan Cox will compete in the iconic Race to the Sky hill climb event next year. He is pictured in his new Mitsubishi Evo, bought specifically for the event. Photo / Supplied
Rotorua's Sloan Cox will compete in the iconic Race to the Sky hill climb event next year. He is pictured in his new Mitsubishi Evo, bought specifically for the event. Photo / Supplied
Rotorua rally driver Sloan Cox has set his sights on the iconic Race to the Sky motorsport event, returning next year after an eight-year break.
The Race to the Sky hill climb was last held in 2007, in the Cardrona Valley near Wanaka.
The event will be held again nextApril and will boast a new claim to fame as the longest gravel hill climb in the world.
Cox, 22, said the Cox Motorsport team had already bought a new vehicle for the event. They bought a Mitsubishi Evo used by top hill climber and rally driver Andrew Hawkeswood, built specifically for hill climbing.
"Race to the Sky has always been an event I have wanted to compete in and I am really excited for its return. This type of hill climb requires a purpose-built car and I know the ex-Hawkeswood hill climb car will give me the best opportunity to be the winning Kiwi, and possibly even win overall.
"I have had a small drive of the car and all I can say is 'wow'." The Cox Motorsport team will spend plenty of time pulling apart and improving the car before the event.
