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SVG And Hunt In Good Form Ahead Of The Rally Of New Zealand

Giltrap Group backed drivers, Shane van Gisbergen and Ben Hunt are both strong contenders to take home first Kiwi honours at the Rally of New Zealand which starts this week.

Sep 27, 2022

It’s the first time in 10 years since the WRC event was held in New Zealand and both SVG and Hunt will be on maximum attack for Kiwi crowds.

What’s better than watching one of the world’s best drivers, Shane van Gisbergen, drive at the limit to a stunning domestic Supercar victory? To watch him just a couple of weeks later on the absolute limit in a Škoda Fabia R5 in the Rally of New Zealand. Throw in Kiwi rally ace Ben Hunt also campaigning his new Škoda Fabia R5 and Kiwi fans will have plenty of talent to cheer for.

Both van Gisbergen and Hunt are geared up and ready to pitch themselves against Rallying’s top international drivers on the return of the iconic International Rally of New Zealand.

The two Kiwis, each sponsored by the Giltrap Group, will be contesting in the WRC2 category in the immensely capable Škoda Fabia R5 rally car. The category is a step down from the full WRC Championship cars, but the opportunity to benchmark their talents against other international WRC2 drivers is enticing to SVG and Hunt.

“To be driving in the Rally of New Zealand is pretty special on its own,” says Hunt, “but to be doing it in a truly world-class R5 with a chance to be right on the pace for my category is epic. I’m really excited to be part of it.”

To be first Kiwi home, for any of the local contingent would be a dream, especially for Shane van Gisbergen who grew up with rallying, his father a former Rally of New Zealand competitor.

“Yeah, I’ve aways loved rallying and have fond memories of watching rallying and rally sprints. Sitting on Dad’s shoulders in the early nineties watching the WRC cars at night at Totara Park, that is probably on of my earliest racing memories.” Says van Gisbergen.

“I’ve always wanted to give it a go myself and that may get more serious in years to come, it’s just an awesome sport.”

“It’s a dream honestly, the event and the roads are so renowned in rallying, I just wanted to watch it when it was announced back in 2020, but that year got cancelled and now this year, I’m really excited to be part of it.” The Supercars Champion says.

But the age old saying of rallying rings true. To finish first, first you must finish.

“Having the confidence to push hard when you know you can safely without risking your rally is important and I have that with the Škoda Fabia R5, but you must always be thinking about the big picture, you have to be there at the end, you have to exercise control and pick your moments (Co-driver) Tony (Rawstorn) really helps with that in the car too” Says Hunt.

Whether the duo of Kiwi Škoda drivers show control or go all out, which they’ve also been known to do, the spectacle will be well worth watching.

The rally kicks off Thursday 29 Sept 2022 and runs through to Sunday, 2 Oct 2022. There’s no word of when, or indeed if, it will return so if you’re into motorsport this is something you do not want to miss.