“It’s exciting to see so many people share our vision for the Ben Nevis Station Golden 1200 Hillclimb,” says Paddon.
The hillclimb uses 6km of the Nevis Road, a remote high-country route between Bannockburn and Kingston which is the highest public road in New Zealand. Event sponsors Ben Nevis Station host the service park and the hillclimb starts on the station before heading over the Nevis Road towards Bannockburn.
Paddon describes the designated section of the steep gravel road as “…magic. These six kilometres offer a mixture of fast and wide, and tight and narrow. The entry list is like a who’s who of the current New Zealand hillclimb scene and the battle across those two days in March this year to win the inaugural Golden 1200 trophy is going to be epic!"
The Golden 1200 Hillclimb – so named for the golden tussock-covered Central Otago landscape and as a reference to the Nevis Valley’s goldmining history, and the 1200 metre elevation at the hillclimb’s finish line – is a two-day event with three runs for all competitors both days.
The fastest time from each day will count towards the competitor’s final results, the intention being to put greater emphasis on each run but also allow for any issues or car malfunctions that may hamper a competitor’s attempt at the 6km hillclimb.
Timing and results will be livestreamed from the event along with regular video and news updates from the dedicated media team.
Spectator access to the designated viewing zones is free this year and offer spectators high octane motorsport among Central Otago’s breath-taking scenery. Access and parking will be via the Nevis Road from Bannockburn.
Paddon says: “It’s one of the best spectating roads in the country so we hope spectators will make the most of this opportunity to come and experience some of New Zealand’s most amazing high-country scenery and some great motorsport action.
“If you’re thinking about coming to spectate, we urge you to organise accommodation before it’s all booked out locally.”
Camping for competitors and spectators will be available on Ben Nevis Station; more details will be shared soon.
See the full entry list HERE.
SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO READ THE FULL STORY
Love rallying? You’ve come to the right place.
Our team share the passion for rallying.
A subscription to RallySport Magazine gives you superior rally content from Australia, New Zealand and around the world – with deals, offers and experiences nobody can match. Our team is dedicated to providing an unrivalled experience that shares, supports and promotes the sport of rallying.
BASIC MEMBERSHIP
$79.99 / yearSign up now
Sign up now$7.49 / monthSign up now
Sign up nowPREMIUM MEMBERSHIP
$171.00 / yearSign up now
Sign up now$14.25 / monthSign up now
Sign up now
