WA’s Tom Wilde will compete in his first overseas event when he heads to New Zealand for the International Rally of Whangarei, round one of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), this weekend.

The 26-year-old driver said he has been watching YouTube videos to get a good idea of the types of roads used in the event.
 
He’s also taken advice from experienced co-driver Bill Hayes who, in 2011, won the APRC title with Alister McRae.
 
Wilde said: “Everyone I have spoken with about the New Zealand event has said how amazing the roads are and that they are incredibly enjoyable, so I'm really looking forward to it.”
 
The Verandah Apartments rally team’s Renault Clio has had an overhaul in preparation for the event and Wilde is keen to get back behind the wheel on the car he drove to second place in the 2013 East Coast Bullbars Australian Rally Championship.
 
“I've had a year’s experience in the car now and I can now say that I feel very comfortable and we will be driving as quickly as we can,” he said.
 
“It's going to be interesting to see how we stand after the first stage, but I think we should hold our own amongst the four wheel drives.”
“A podium finish would be a nice way to start the season,” he added.
Funding permitting, Wilde plans to contest all seven rounds of the 2014 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC).
 
“I'm hoping we can finish each event well,” he said. “You never know, we could be in with a chance to win the championship.”
 
“The Renault has proven to be very strong and I don't think we'll have any problems with it handling the tough conditions of the APRC.”
 
“If anything, we have taken a bit of power out to maintain a safety margin with the engine to try to minimise costs with rebuilds.”

Wilde expected the MRF Skodas would provide tough competition for him, but said Mark Pedder, in a Mitsubishi Evo 10, would probably be his greatest rival.
 
“I think we could have some great battles throughout the year,” he added.
 
The International Rally of Whangarei runs from April 11 – 13 and is the first of seven rounds for the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship.

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