With the three previous bi-annual Silver Fern rallies held in the South Island, this year’s event has been brought to the North Island and competitors can expect a wide and varied route throughout the scenic middle half of the Island.
“The North Island’s gravel back roads are much tighter and twistier that those in the South, but that’s not to say there are some spectacularly fast sections as well. I hope we have created an exciting event on a variety of roads that will suit all competitors.” said Route Co-ordinator Steve Burley.
Burley added, “We have included many older iconic rally stages such at the Motu, Rakaroa and Whakarau (near Gisborne), Cricklewood and the Old Mohaka Coach Road near Wairoa, Opotiki Road and Waitewhenua near Taumarunui. Parts of the route have not been used since the last International events down here in the ‘80’s.”
The rally closes off sections of the back country gravel roads for the “Special Stages” on the event, where competitors race against the clock. The rest of the event is over touring sections where everyone must obey the recognised road rules. Strict penalties apply to any competitor who does not comply.
The seven day International event is one of a kind in New Zealand, and one of a very few true marathon gravel rally events in the world, and organisers offer a big vote of thanks to all the Local Councils, Communities, Schools, Rural Mail, Milk Tankers, Farmers, Land owners and especially the residents on all of the roads being used.
In summary, the epay Silver Fern Rally 2012 will start from Auckland’s Botany Town Centre on the afternoon of Saturday November 10th with the drivers and cars then taking on over 1000km’s of competitive high speed rally stages stopping overnight in Rotorua, Gisborne, Napier, Feilding, Ohakune and Taupo before finishing at Hamilton’s Claudeland’s Events Centre on November 17th.
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