Rally champ dates locked in
The Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship will return to Southland and Hawke’s Bay in 2026 after organisers confirmed the calendar for next year’s competition.
The six-round championship will begin with the 50th running of the Otago Rally from April 10-12.
Next is the Rally Canterbury on May 31 and then the teams head to Invercargill for the Barry Robinson Memorial Rally Southland on July 18.
After a mid-season break, the action resumes in Hawke’s Bay on August 22. This will be the first time the region has hosted an event since 2022, after floods in early 2023 damaged a number of roads.
The International Rally of Whangarei will run from September 25-27 before the season concludes with the Rally Bay of Plenty on October 31.
Blair Bartels, championship co-ordinator, says: “It is always a challenge balancing the needs of each event with council requirements, championship needs and doing what’s best for the competitor.
“I am delighted to have this calendar confirmed. We know it will be an exciting challenge for competitors, with the different nuances of each event providing a unique test.
2026 NZ Rally Championship calendar
April 10-12: Central Machine Hire Otago Rally
May 31: Lonestar Rally of Canterbury in association with Joe’s Garage
July 18: Barry Robinson Memorial Rally Southland
August 22: Rally Hawke’s Bay
September 25-27: Vertex Oil International Rally of Whangarei
October 31: Battery Town Rally Bay of Plenty
