Competitors in the ninth annual running of the 2006 Hella International Rally of Rotorua will face two legs of competition on what are widely regarded as New Zealand's best rally stages. The format for round two of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship will again include the smooth flowing public road stages in the Eastern Bay of Plenty region, which are world renowned as being real driver favourites.

The event will commence from City Focus in the heart of Rotorua City on the evening of Friday May 26th with the traditional ceremonial start and motorsport show. The competitive action begins the following morning with drivers heading to the popular Manawahe stage running on the roads surrounding Lake Rotoma. This special stage includes the spectator's favourite vantage spot at Helicopter Corner. Manawahe is followed by a new stage at Stanley Road between Whakatane and Opotiki.

Cars and crews will then have a chance to refuel at Opotiki prior to tackling the world famous Motu Road. The demanding 49-kilometre gorge road starts with a fast sprint from the coast at Opotiki high into the Eastern Bay of Plenty ranges, where the road winds its way along spectacular ridgelines. After tackling the mid-stage water crossing the road descends the valley to finish at the Motu settlement. A real test for drivers, co-drivers and their cars, the Motu always plays a crucial role in the outcome of the event.   
Service at the Matawai Village will be followed by the Whakarau and Raukoroa stages, with an afternoon service again at the Matawai service park. The final stage of the opening leg is a repeat run of the 32km Whakarau stage. Crews then return to the overnight park at the Village Green on the Rotorua Lakefront.

Leg 2 on Sunday will be based around a service park at the Village Green on the Rotorua Lakefront with three stages at Pinnacles, Maniatutu, and Lake Rotoma, all to be used twice. These three repeated stages are all on smooth flowing roads providing a fast and furious finish to the event. The final days competition has been designed with easy spectator access, with the stages only being a short distance from Rotorua City.

The event concludes with the victory celebrations on the finish ramp at the Village Green on the Rotorua Lakefront on the afternoon of Sunday 28th.

Event Chairman Laurie Brenssell commented, this year's format has been designed to provide a real challenge to both national and international competitors, while providing a spectacle to the many rally fans who will flock to the event. Saturday will be a challenge of endurance and survival with the Motu stages, while Sunday will be a fast race to the finish.

For further information contact:
Laurie Brenssell
Hella International Rally of Rotorua
Phone: 09 276 0882  
Website: www.rallyrotorua.co.nz