Rally champs lock in dates
The Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) will return to Coromandel and Bay of Plenty this year after organisers confirmed the 2023 calendar.
After a couple of seasons disrupted by Covid-19 and last year’s season featuring a double-round at Rally New Zealand, the competition is this year reverting to a traditional six-round schedule.
The season will open with the Otago Rally on April 1-2 – where local star Emma Gilmour will debut her new Citroen C3 R5, pictured – followed by the International Rally of Whangarei from May 12-14.
The remaining rounds will be one-day events and the championship’s finale will be based out of Whakatane in the Bay of Plenty on October 14.
Blair Bartels, NZRC co-ordinator, says: “We are delighted to see the return of an old favourite in Coromandel after missing the past few years while it is very exciting to welcome Bay of Plenty to the fold.
“Every event presents a new and unique challenge to our competitors and each rally has its own flavour that will add something different to our championship.”
2023 New Zealand Rally Championship
Round 1: Otago, April 1-2
Round 2: Whangarei, May 12-14
Round 3: South Canterbury, June 17
Round 4: Hawke’s Bay, July 22
Round 5: Coromandel, September 2
Round 6: Bay of Plenty, October 14
