There are many good opportunities for the public to see the action which will be the Hella Battery Town Rally of Rotorua, round 3 of the 2004 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship and also Round 3 of the Parker Enzed New Zealand Rally Championship.
Thursday 8th July the rally comes to central Rotorua with the Dennis Hanson Motors Motorsport Show at City Focus, Tutanekai Street. Central Rotorua will become a colourful array of competition cars and trade displays with the Motorsport Show commencing at 10.30am, incorporating cars from all forms of Motorsport.
All competing cars and crews will then report to the pre-start area at City Focus between 4.00 and 4.30 on Thursday in the build up to the ceremonial start. This is a great opportunity for the public to rub shoulders with the drivers, grab an autograph or poster and check out the rallycars close up. The first car proceeds over the start ramp at 6.30pm, flagged away by the cities Mayor Mr Grahame Hall.
The first car departs from the Rotorua Village Green at 7.30am on Friday 9th July, heading to the infamous Motu region in the eastern Bay of Plenty via stages at Mamiatutu, Rotoehu and Manawahe in the Lake Rotoma area. Service at Opotiki before the Motu stages is followed by another service at the Matawai Township before the day’s final stages at Whakarau and Rakauroa. The first car returns to the Village Green at 7.30pm.
Saturday’s Leg 2 begins at 7.30am with a service at the Village Green in Rotorua before heading to 6 stages in the Waiotapu and Kaiangaroa forests. The fast forestry tests have several prime spectator viewing areas for the public to view the action from. The day’s service park will be at the Kawerau Recreation Centre. The event then concludes with the ceremonial finish back at City Focus in the heart of Rotorua from 2pm where the victory celebrations and the traditional spraying of the champagne will occur.
The event also incorporates the Waiariki Institute of Technology Clubman’s Rally, round 3 of the CPS NZ Limited Top Half Rally Series. This event will follow the APRC field competing on the same roads, with a field of thirty five competitors expected to take the start.
Event information including maps and tickets will be available from Tuesday July 6th at Rally Headquarters, Millennium Hotel, Rotorua. All proceeds from ticket sales are shared with local community groups who assist with providing marshals for the event.
