Hayden Paddon has confirmed he will contest the 2024 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship. His plans are a significant boost for the six-round 2024 calendar that will see the first half of the season take place in the South Island and second half in the North.
Championship organisers have also confirmed the addition of the Southern Lights Rally, to be based in Invercargill and using iconic Southland roads as well as a significant date swap for the International Rally of Whangarei.
The 2024 championship begins at the traditional season-opening Otago Rally on April 13-14 before Rally South Canterbury, a month earlier than usual on May 11.
The Southern Lights Rally will take place on June 22 before a nearly three-month break during the middle of the year.
The North Island rounds begin on September 14 with the Daybreaker Rally based out of the Manawatu while Rally Bay of Plenty returns on October 5.
The championship concludes with International Rally of Whangarei taking place on November 8-10.
Championship co-ordinator Blair Bartels says the north-south split will help keep costs down for competitors.
“We welcome the Southern Lights Rally – the first time the championship has visited Southland since 2004 – and look forward to getting back on some terrific roads in the Deep South.
“It is great to be able to book-end the championship with a two-day event at the start and again at the end, which should mean the title race will almost certainly come down to the final round.
MotorSport New Zealand chief executive Elton Goonan said he is excited to see the calendar confirmed.
“It’s fantastic to see the New Zealand Rally Championship continuing to go from strength to strength.
“A six-round championship with the addition of a new rally in Southland shows that rallying is alive and growing in New Zealand. The confirmation that Daybreaker and Bay of Plenty events are back again after a triumphant return this year, along with the rest of the great events that have become staples of the championship, will make for another brilliant NZRC season.”
