WRC Weekend 6-9 May

[Jem Thompson]

Just a reminder that the WRC is on next weekend. There are lots of opportunities for viewing, shakedown is being held on Thursday morning at the Auckland Domain, and Friday sees competition on the same course. Free to watch, and there is also the service area at Queens Wharf. More info here http://www.rallynz.org.nz/spectators/free-events.

Also a super special being held at Hampton Downs on the Saturday.

Looks like a pretty awesome weekend really. I know the WRC has been a bit rubbish in recent years, but the spectacle watching live is still quite amazing.

[GravelBen]

One of these days I'll make the trip north for it, not this year unfortunately.

[D1GGY]

Ben, If you can get a cheap flight up to Auckland then you are more than welcome to hitch a ride with me around the stages.....My accommodation is a only a one bed jobby though, so you would need to sort that to.

Bear in mind no event next year due to the Rugby....and no assurance given for one thereafter according to some websites!

[Jem Thompson]

D1GGY said:

Bear in mind no event next year due to the Rugby....and no assurance given for one thereafter according to some websites!

I think next years event would not have happened due the new FIA policy of alternating events between countries, so each country has an event every second year. Don't give me another reason to despise the RWC will you?

But I would not be too confident on banking on future events, I was forwarded an email from the car club (it was sent out all clubs presumably) from the organiser asking for support.

[D1GGY]

I was surprised when I read this as I thought there was a rotational policy as well, A round was offered for next year according to this page....

http://www.rallynz.org.nz/news/logistics-and-rugby...

Mark

[GravelBen]

D1GGY said:

Ben, If you can get a cheap flight up to Auckland then you are more than welcome to hitch a ride with me around the stages.....My accommodation is a only a one bed jobby though, so you would need to sort that to.

Thanks for the offer, its tempting but I've been hammering the visa a bit much lately as it is!

[Jem Thompson]

Last night my university held a presentation, speakers included morrie Chandler (WRC Commissioner at the FIA), a strategist for BP Ford, Petter Soldberg's team manager, and Haydon Paddon (oh, and an awful Citroen PR lady). It was a very informative evening, and got me even more excited about the event. Shakedown is tomorrow morning at the domain, and the service park is open every day. I walked past it this morning, its very open, and it was nice to stand there watching some mechanics fettle away on Loebs Citroen. Rallying really is the best, most accessible form of motorsport it seems. I love it

[Fraster]

OOH and a trolley derby! I'll definitely be there!

[uncinqsix]

If you're at Hampton Downs on the Saturday or Viaduct Harbour on the Sunday, be sure to drop by the ANCAP crashed cars display. There may be one or more PHers standing around looking stupid

[D1GGY]

OK guys after some advice...where should i head to tomorrow (in northland) for the best views?

See you at Hampton, will you be wearing a red rose or similar to stand out?

[Fraster]

a diesel Citroen? Good show and close to home. I talked to a guy who said that last time they ran the event through the domain was when the leaders were driving Audi Quattros. Who is the loony kiwi in the black Mitsi?-he was giving it 11/10ths

[Jem Thompson]

Fraster said:

a diesel Citroen? Good show and close to home. I talked to a guy who said that last time they ran the event through the domain was when the leaders were driving Audi Quattros. Who is the loony kiwi in the black Mitsi?-he was giving it 11/10ths

Oh gosh I remember that guy in the Evo. Came into the downhill left-right on Domain Drive, wheels locked, fully sideways before hurling it back the other way. Lots of gasps from the spectators, and a lot of smoke left lingering. He had a little mishap towards the end of shakedown, but it was just out of my sight.

I can't reccomend enough that people get along to this. There are some fantastic viewing points around the domain. And the S2000 cars sound absolutely insane. The speed of the WRC cars really blew me away too, not only how quickly they pile it on, but how much they wipe off in such short distances.

[GravelBen]

Fraster said:

Who is the loony kiwi in the black Mitsi?-he was giving it 11/10ths

Sounds like Andrew Hawkeswood based purely on the description of driving style!

[Fraster]

It was just a spin, Jem - right in front of me at the corner where they do the hillclimbs. I thought he was about to disappear into the scenery but he managed to keep it on the road

[GravelBen]

So... any photos?

[Jem Thompson]

GravelBen said:

So... any photos?

I am rubbish with trying to resize photos, so this is the best I can do. I happened to be standing at an intersection downtown when all the WRC cars made their way past. It was amazing to see them idling away in traffic.

[GravelBen]

I passed Juha Kunkkunen on the Dunedin motorway once... it didn't seem to impress him very much.

[Fraster]

I passed Rod Millen at Hot Water Beach once. He was going the other way. (tee hee)

[Jem Thompson]

[quote=GravelBen]I passed Juha Kunkkunen on the Dunedin motorway once... it didn't seem to impress him very much. [/quote

If you had passed him like this he may have been a little more impressed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chI-vvKfv-s

With regards to the WRC, how far do the cars travel on the touring stages? Do they drive all the way from downtown Auckland to Whangarei/Raglan etc?

[D1GGY]

GravelBen said:

So... any photos?

A few of my snaps...I decided before the event that I just wanted to go and watch and bother with the whole camera thing, but couldn't help myself in the end and had to take a few from where i happened to be standing - hence grass and other distractions! I may have a play later with and process some to see what can be done.

Enjoy!