29 competitors are in New Zealand, including Adrien Fourmaux

If it’s hard to talk about the surprise, the extent of this engagement for New Zealand is disappointing. There are really only 29 competitors, only one ranking page. To return this event to the WRC calendar, a larger local mobilization was expected. The main tournament players are still present with WRC2s, R5s or AP4s meeting the Asia Pacific technical profile.

Many of the cars in the national competition are not eligible to participate in the World Rally Championship, which has a limited number of entries. They will finally be 13 kiwis with two headliners: Hayden Paddon who couldn’t find a steering wheel in Rally1 and would be content with Rally2, and Shane van Gisbergen. They will evolve in WRC2 as Poland’s Kajetan Kajetanowicz will aim to score key points if he wants to preserve his title chances.

Party Ovens in New Zealand

In the top category, Lorenzo Bertelli planned his debut with the Puma Hybrid. The Italian, who has not raced since the 2011 Safari (11^H) was able to do a test session in Greece to get to know Rally1. It’s also on the Ford that Adrien Fourmaux should be back after missing the Acropolis. Aware of the challenge ahead of him, the Frenchman tries to combine all the opportunities on his side by making a good preparation as well as the observations side as mental.

For North as for most of his colleagues, this journey to the other side of the earth will be a great start and pilots in the learning process like Fourmaux, Oliver Solberg or Fergus Greensmith should take advantage of it to put themselves in the spotlight. 17 specials and a timed 276.44km on the program with the first SS announced on September 29 from 8:08am in Europe (6:08pm in Auckland).