The New Zealand Rally Championship is this country’s premier nationwide rally championship and, as such, attracts New Zealand’s best drivers to compete in numerous categories for the prestigious MotorSport New Zealand-sanctioned rally championship titles.

Keep up to date with the teams and the championship news, right here…

Jones makes jump to open 4WD in 2024

The uber-talented 19-year-old will run a Smith & Sons-backed Skoda Fabia R5 and will make his championship debut at the season opening round in Otago in April. The car has been run over the past few seasons by uncle Kingsley Jones and the younger Jones is aiming to put a whole season deal together. He

From the Service Park – summer special

The NZRC Live crew were in attendance at Dylan Thomson’s wedding over the weekend and were able to gain some valuable insights ahead of the 2024 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship. It was great to be able to celebrate with Dylan – one of the championship’s real good guys – as he

NZRC calendar for 2024 confirmed

The Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship has confirmed a 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

From the Service Park – Rally Bay of Plenty

We hope everyone enjoyed Battery Town Rally Bay of Plenty over the weekend and have enjoyed the 2023 season as a whole. With Dylan Turner and Jack Hawkeswood not competing over the weekend, we are a little light on material this time but there were still plenty of things to look at. SVG is a

Paddon holds off SVG for BOP win, seventh title

Hayden Paddon has won Battery Town Rally Bay of Plenty to secure an unprecedented seventh national title in the process, edging Supercars star Shane van Gisbergen by 29.6 seconds. Paddon was battling Raana Horan for the Brian Green Property Group 2023 championship, but an early Horan mishap saw any chance of an upset evaporate. It

Paddon, Horan in shoot-out for 2023 title

Hayden Paddon will chase his seventh national championship while Raana Horan is poised to pick up the spoils if the WRC rally winner has any problems this weekend in the Bay of Plenty. Paddon holds a commanding 14-point lead in the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship and needs only to finish the

SVG to compete in final NZ event before US move

Rally fans will have one last chance to see Supercars champion, Bathurst winner and motorsport superstar Shane van Gisbergen on gravel when he tackles Battery Town Rally Bay of Plenty this weekend. Fresh off winning a third Bathurst 1000 crown last weekend alongside fellow Kiwi Richie Stanaway, Van Gisbergen returns to gravel for the final

Rally New Zealand announces co-driver academy class of 2023

Rally New Zealand are proud to announce the six co-drivers who have been selected to participate in the 2023 Rally New Zealand Co-driver Academy, to be held in Auckland on November 3-5. 2023 marks the return of the academy for a fourth edition after a four-year lay off. It sees co-drivers train with experienced professionals

Championship scenarios and contenders – Part 3

As we head to our final event of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship for 2023 we take a look at the overall points situation. Challenge Jeff Ward holds a three-point lead over young rival Zeal Jones. Ward currently holds the tie-break advantage so Jones would need to beat Ward in the

Championship scenarios and contenders – Part 2

This week we take a look at each individual class within the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship to see what the battle looks like heading into the final round. Group A Tim Smith currently holds a nine-point lead, but he is not going to be competing at Bay of Plenty, throwing the

Hawkeswood: Control tyre deal is just what the sport needs

Former national champion and rally legend Andrew Hawkeswood has given his support of a control tyre being introduced into the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship. Championship organisers confirmed on Thursday they have inked a three-year deal with MRF Tyres as the official tyre supplier of categories 1-4 in the national championship beginning

MRF Tyres confirmed as control tyre for 2024 and beyond

The Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship will run a control tyre in 2024 with MRF Tyres confirmed as the official tyre partner for the next three years. It is the first time in the 45-year history of the championship that a control tyre, used by all competitors competing in categories 1-4, has

Championship scenarios and contenders – Part 1

This week we take a look at where the first block of our championships are sitting, heading into the final round at Rally Bay of Plenty in October. Teams Cup Cat 5: The Teams Cup Cat 5 championship is currently lead by Jnr Masters team, which is made up of veteran driver Brian Green and

From the Service Park – Daybreaker Rally

Our first visit back to the Manawatu was a big success and the NZRC team was suitably impressed with Feilding as a host town. The lovely little rural town proved a great spot, with plenty of friendly locals and big interest in a slick ceremonial opening. A job well done A shout out to T-Mac,

Paddon survives gravel, rain and SVG to win Daybreaker Rally

Six-time national champion Hayden Paddon has driven to a comfortable victory at the Daybreaker Rally on Saturday – the fourth round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship. Paddon (Hyundai NZ i20 Rally 2) was in control throughout, battling being the first car on the road and being forced to sweep roads

Paddon, SVG return for iconic Daybreaker Rally

The Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship roars back to life this week after a three-month hiatus as the best rally drivers in the country tackle the iconic Daybreaker Rally. Based out of Feilding in the Manawatu and using roads made famous by an event that is steeped in folklore, the Daybreaker Rally

Open 4WD championship mid-season update

The open 4WD is the shop window of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship and WRC star Hayden Paddon has certainly underlined his talents by dominating the class recently. The Hyundai star began the year as the overwhelming favourite but a schedule forced to change due to weather events in the North

NZRC 2WD championship mid-season update

The NZRC 2WD championship is one of the most hotly contested within the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship with a stack of up-and-coming stars and one wily veteran squaring off. With two leading competitors in defending champ Dylan Thomson and Bryn Jones getting new cars for round two, pressure was on Jackson

Rally New Zealand Co-Drivers Academy returns in 2023

After four years away, Rally of New Zealand are proud to announce the highly successful Rally New Zealand Co-Drivers Academy will return in 2023. The academy, which is aimed at developing Kiwi co-driving talent, will take on six co-drivers and will be held in Auckland on November 3-5. Rally New Zealand have once again enlisted

Open 2WD mid-season update

The Open 2WD class of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship is evenly poised with two rounds to go with up to five competitors still theoretically in the title battle. Defending series champion Daniel Haines battled veteran driver Dave Strong throughout the 2022 championship and a similar battle was expected this year.

Historic 2WD championship mid-season update

The Historic 2WD title battle has become a two-horse race – and a close one at that – between defending champion John Silcock and Australian Stewart Reid. The two combatants have each enjoyed dominance over the other across the 2023 championship so far and little separates them with two rallies left to contest. Silcock, the

4WD Rally Challenge mid-season update

The Rally Challenge 4WD class within the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship is one of the most competitive and has already delivered a thrilling ride for fans so far.  The Challenge is designed as a gateway class into the full NZRC, with competitors only scoring points on the opening day of the

2WD Rally Challenge mid-season update

The 2WD Rally Challenge championship has been a difficult one for many competitors and that has led to a wide-open championship fight to crown a winner over the final two rounds of the season. The class is designed to give competitors a stepping-stone into a bigger campaign in the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand

Group A Rally Challenge mid-season update

The Group A Rally Challenge is a class specific to 4WD cars built prior to the end of 1995, to celebrate an exciting era of the sport before the advent of the world rally car. For the 2023 season, cars complying with the Mainland Rally Series H6 class of Subaru Impreza's have also been added

Junior Championship mid-season update

This week, we turn our attention to the up and coming stars of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship and check out the young guns in the Junior Championship. Catering to competitors under the age of 25 as at January 1, points are awarded at the end of the opening day to

Rookie championship mid-season update

While last week we touched on Gold Card competitors who have plenty of experience, this week we look at the newbies to the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship as we highlight the Rookie championship. Like the Gold Card and Junior championships, the Rookie championship scores points only on the opening day of

Gold Card Cup mid-season update

This week we focus on the newest class within the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, the Gold Card Cup. Introduced in 2021, as the name suggests, drivers over the age of 65 qualify for the class with results decided across the first day of each event. With three drivers registered for the

Manufacturers’ Championship mid-season update

This week we turn the spotlight onto the race for the Manufacturers' title. Manufacturers play an important part within the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, without them we literally wouldn’t have cars to start with! After years of a two-horse race with Subaru and Mitsubishi, the introduction of the AP4 formula to

Teams’ Championship mid-season update

Eight different combinations entered the Teams’ Cup in the 2023 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship and with just two rounds remaining there is something of a surprise leader. This championship sees two crews work together to combine their respective class scores from each of the five rounds of the 2023 championship. With

Teams’ Cup mid-season update

The Teams' Cup is often overlooked in the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, but brings competitors from multiple classes together. This week, we shine the spotlight on the Teams' Cup for Challenge competitors, those competing in Categories 5a & 5b. To start the season off, just the two teams registered, "Team GCs"

From the Service Park – Rally South Canterbury

Hawkeswood has major case of FOMO Jack Hawkeswood was a noticeable absentee from South Canterbury over the weekend but the talented youngster was watching closely, commenting on the live stream and in constant dialogue with organisers. Apparently he is in the midst of gaining his helicopter licence, which will make it much easier getting to

Horan triumphs in dramatic Rally South Canterbury

Raana Horan has taken a second career win in the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship after a dramatic ending to the third round at South Canterbury. Horan inherited the lead in his Generator Rental Services Skoda Fabia Rally 2 when rally leader and title hopeful Ben Hunt slid off the road on

Battle royale expected at South Canterbury

A wide open third round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship beckons on the lightning-fast South Canterbury roads this weekend. With 2023 championship leader Hayden Paddon not able to compete at this round, the door is open for the likes of Ben Hunt (Skoda New Zealand Rally 2), Raana Horan (Generator

Clendon chasing gains in fierce 2WD battle

The NZRC 2WD battle in the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship is arguably the most competitive of all the classes and one driver is focused on small improvements getting him big gains this week. Jackson Clendon won the season-opening round at Otago before having to settle for second place at Rally Whangarei

Daybreaker returns as 2023 calendar is set

A return of the Manawatu-based Daybreaker Rally has been confirmed as the now five-round Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship is set. With extreme weather events earlier this year forcing Rally Hawke’s Bay and Rally Coromandel off the 2023 calendar, championship organisers have been able to bring back an old favourite thanks to

Silcock vows to comeback for another shot at famous trophy

John Silcock has seen it all during his rallying career but the South Islander continues to lament the trophy that somehow keeps eluding him – the Motogard Trophy. For the second year running Silcock’s crack at lifting the famous trophy at International Rally of Whangarei ended in heartbreak. Last year he was pipped in the

The coming of age of Zeal Jones

Youngster Zeal Jones announced himself as a driver with a massive future in the sport after winning the Rally Challenge class and picking up the Dunlop Drive of the Rally at Whangarei last weekend. Jones had already turned heads with some impressive showings in the second half of last season and at Otago but made

From the Service Park – Rally Whangarei

It was another highly dramatic but entertaining weekend at the International Rally of Whangarei. The Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship live team were out and about and bring you these rumours and highlights from the weekend. Dylan “Dingo” Thomson He celebrated the arrival of the new car in style by claiming a

Paddon, Thomson victorious in challenging Whangarei battle

WRC rally winner Hayden Paddon has completed yet another faultless drive to secure victory in the in round two of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship in Whangarei. Paddon won all 16 stages over the weekend in his Hyundai New Zealand i20 Rally2 to take a commanding win of over three and

Paddon takes control as SVG, Pettigrew falter

Hayden Paddon has dominated the opening day of the International Rally of Whangarei to take a commanding lead overnight in the second round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship. Paddon leads two-time national champion Ben Hunt by just over two minutes in his Hyundai New Zealand i20 Rally2 car. Hunt was

Battle on in Whangarei with new cars, drivers

Supercars star Shane van Gisbergen’s first appearance of the 2023 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship is set to throw more intrigue on the battle at the front of the field in Whangarei. The second round of the national championship takes place at the International Rally of Whangarei this weekend with Van Gisbergen

Historic trophy up for grabs at Whangarei

One of the sport’s most renowned trophies is up for grabs at this weekend’s International Rally of Whangarei at round two of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship. The Motogard Trophy was first presented to the winner of Rally New Zealand in 1978 and was the silverware that was up for grabs

Van Gisbergen surprised and honoured with seeding

Supercars ace Shane van Gisbergen is surprised and honoured to be seeded second for this weekend’s second round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship at Whangarei. The three-time Supercars champion will make his NZRC season debut up north this weekend and feels no pressure despite being seeded second to WRC star

From the Service Park – Otago Rally

Good Samaritan award The week got off to a rough start for a number of North Island crews, who were unable to cross the Cook Strait due to big swells. One of those crews was Mike and Helen Cameron, whose car remained in the North Island. Despite their frustration, the husband and wife team decided

       

ABOUT THE NZRC

 
The New Zealand Rally Championship is this country’s premier nationwide rally championship. It attracts New Zealand’s best drivers to compete in numerous categories for the prestigious MotorSport New Zealand-sanctioned rally championship titles. In 2024, there are six NZRC rounds, each with a unique character reflecting the diverse regions – from Northland to Invercargill