Motorsport: Champions rally to New Zealand

Seven world champions are among the field of 81 confirmed for the Rally of New Zealand.

The champions, who have accumulated 14 world titles between them, will line up for the October 3-6 event in the Auckland region, the 12th round of the world championship.

World champion Richard Burns will defend his title, while the field will also include 2000 winner Marcus Gronholm of Finland, Spaniard Carlos Sainz, who won in 1990 and 1992; 1995 winner Colin McRae, 1984 winner Stig Blomqvist of Sweden and four-time champions from Finland, Tommi Makinen and Juha Kankkunen.