The Rally New Zealand is an annual rally race in New Zealand. It was first included as a round of the World Rally Championship in 1977. The race is famous for its fast flowing gravel roads which carry the competitors through forests and alongside the New Zealand coastline.
It was first held in Taupō in 1969, and was subsequently staged in Canterbury, before moving back to the North Island in 1971. Auckland has hosted the majority of Rally New Zealand events. From 2006 to 2008 the event was based in Hamilton, with the service park, parc ferme and the super special stage all being located at the Mystery Creek Events Centre. In 2010 it returned to Auckland.
The WRC teams voted Propecia Rally New Zealand "Rally of the Year" in 2001. The 2007 Rally New Zealand ended with the closest-ever finish in the history of the World Rally Championship. After over 350 competitive kilometres, only 0.3 seconds separated the winner Marcus Grönholm and second-placed Sébastien Loeb.
No WRC event was held between 2013 and 2021. The event was planned to be held on the 2020 calendar, but was cancelled in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Rally New Zealand returned after a 10 year hiatus in 2022, with Auckland as the main focus of the event. Kalle Rovanperä won the event, and as the event hasn't returned to the WRC Calendar since, Rovanperä remains the most recent winner of the event.
Past winners
Season Driver Co-driver Car Event report 1969* Grady Thompson Rick Rimmer Holden Monaro 1970* Paul Adams Don Fenwick BMW 2002 1971* Bruce Hodgson Mike Mitchell Ford Cortina–Lotus 1972* Andrew Cowan Jim Scott BLMC Mini 1275 GT 1973* Hannu Mikkola Jim Porter Ford Escort RS1600 1974* Not held 1975* Mike Marshall Arthur McWatt Ford Escort RS1800 1976* Andrew Cowan Jim Scott Hillman Avenger 1977 Fulvio Bacchelli Francesco Rossetti Fiat 131 Abarth Report 1978* Russell Brookes Chris Porter Ford Escort RS1800 1979 Hannu Mikkola Arne Hertz Ford Escort RS1800 1980 Timo Salonen Seppo Harjanne Datsun 160J 1981* Jim Donald Kevin Lancaster Ford Escort RS 1982 Björn Waldegård Hans Thorszelius Toyota Celica 1983 Walter Röhrl Christian Geistdörfer Lancia 037 Rally 1984 Stig Blomqvist Bjorn Cederberg Audi Quattro 1985 Timo Salonen Seppo Harjanne Peugeot 205 T16 E2 1986 Juha Kankkunen Juha Piironen Peugeot 205 T16 E2 1987 Franz Wittman Jorg Pattermann Lancia Delta 4WD 1988 Josef Haider Ferdinand Hinterleitner Opel Kadett GSi 16V 1989 Ingvar Carlsson Per Carlsson Mazda 323 4WD 1990 Carlos Sainz Luis Moya Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 1991 Carlos Sainz Luis Moya Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 1992 Carlos Sainz Luis Moya Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD 1993 Colin McRae Derek Ringer Subaru Legacy RS 1994 Colin McRae Derek Ringer Subaru Impreza 555 1995 Colin McRae Derek Ringer Subaru Impreza 555 1996* Richard Burns Robert Reid Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III 1997 Kenneth Eriksson Staffan Parmander Subaru Impreza WRC 97 1998 Carlos Sainz Luis Moya Toyota Corolla WRC 1999 Tommi Makinen Risto Mannisenmäki Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI 2000 Marcus Grönholm Timo Rautiainen Peugeot 206 WRC 2001 Richard Burns Robert Reid Subaru Impreza WRC 2001 Report 2002 Marcus Grönholm Timo Rautiainen Peugeot 206 WRC Report 2003 Marcus Grönholm Timo Rautiainen Peugeot 206 WRC Report 2004 Petter Solberg Phil Mills Subaru Impreza WRC 2004 Report 2005 Sébastien Loeb Daniel Elena Citroën Xsara WRC Report2006 Marcus Grönholm Timo Rautiainen Ford Focus RS WRC 06 Report2007 Marcus Grönholm Timo Rautiainen Ford Focus RS WRC 07 Report2008 Sébastien Loeb Daniel Elena Citroën C4 WRC Report 2009* Not held2010 Jari-Matti Latvala Miikka Anttila Ford Focus RS WRC 09 Report 2011* Hayden Paddon John Kennard Subaru Impreza WRX 2012 Sébastien Loeb Daniel Elena Citroën DS3 WRC Report 2013–2016* Not held 2017* Hayden Paddon John Kennard Hyundai i20 AP4 2018* Hayden Paddon Malcolm Read Hyundai i20 AP4 2020 Cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns 2021* Not held 2022 Kalle Rovanperä Jonne Halttunen Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Report 2023–Present* Not held
* denotes years when Rally New Zealand was not part of the World Rally Championship
Multiple winners
Number Driver Years 5 Marcus Grönholm 2000, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007 4 Carlos Sainz 1990, 1991, 1992, 19983 Sébastien Loeb 2005, 2008, 2012 Colin McRae 1993, 1994, 1995 Hayden Paddon 2011, 2017, 20182 Andrew Cowan 1972, 1976 Hannu Mikkola 1973, 1979 Timo Salonen 1980, 1985 Richard Burns 1996, 2001
External links
Official site FIA Page for Rally New Zealand Rally New Zealand at eWRC-results