2002 - Round Two
Plymouth International Hotel Taranaki Tarmac Rally

Thanks to our sponsors - Redhills Benz, Valvoline, STS Subaru Reckers.

This weekend, the Redhills Rallyteam head off to the fast and furious roads of the Taranki District for Round Two of the Winger Subaru / Rock FM Top Half Series, held on Saturday 20th April.

We are seeded 117th o/a and will be looking for a finish in the top 50. Care will be needed running so far back, as many of the cars will be cutting corners, throwing gravel onto the exits, which if the car gets into, will cause the driver to have his heart in his mouth. This is also our first foray onto tarmac rallying, so it will be a steep learning curve for driver and co-driver alike, but we are ready and excited to go.

DETAILS:

Venue: Taranaki District Roads
Length: Touring 237.38 kms Special Stages 202.86 kms Total 440.24kms
First Car Starts: 6:00 am Warehouse Car Park Courtney Street NP
First Car Finishes: 16:58 pm Plymouth International Hotel Cnr Courtney and Leach St. NP

STAGE DESCRIPTIONS:

SS 1 Narrow and fast stage, brows hard to read.

SS 2 Similar to stage 1.

SS 3 Fast start and finish, very tight and windy middle section over the mountain range.

SS 4 Slightly wider road, fast stage, with hairpin, giant brows and a tight sections. Reverse of last year stage 6.

SS 5 Mostly narrow road, this stage has everything from slow to fast, including the yumps.

SS 6 Used this in 1998 but we are running in reverse. Going to be a challenge.

SS 7 & SS 8 Both are fast and challenging stages, has been known to eat Escorts and nibble on others.

SS 9 Fairly quick but one will need to be on ones toes.

SS10 This has a nasty 'S' that will catch the unwary, not one to snooze in.

SS11 This has it all, fast start and finish, tight middle, others have been known to stop off for a 'hole' or two of golf. They have requested a new gate this year.

SS12 Goes from wide to narrow, medium to fast to slow to fast plus a tunnel. Yes the T/bird does fit through. This is a long one.

SS13 Spectators favorite, very wide industrial roads, care is needed as the Stage is fully kerbed, 3 laps of the circuit. Having made it this far now is not the time to nod off.

Will be in touch with a full report next week.

Thx

Simon Bell and Sam Ackland
Redhills Rallyteam