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 If asked from the drivers, New Zealand ranks amongst the best if not the all-time favourite. The roads are smooth, relatively fast and pleasant to drive on, real drivers' stages. It is next to impossible to break the car without going off which guarantees nail-bitingly close fights for the lead and large number of finishers. For example in 2001 edition, not one of 14 entered works drivers did retire.
Roads have interesting camber and are characterized by fast corners in rapid succession. This continual change of direction makes driving look like ballet in a rally car, vehicle drifting from one corner to next with amazing grace and sense of purpose. Unfortunately the event is one of those where first cars are in disadvantage because of loose gravel.
Scenery is striking too, rolling green hills made famous by movies and coastal stages providing unique scenery amongs the WRC rounds. New Zealand is very small country and from commercial point of view event does not represent important market for manufacturers. The good quality of the organisation and unconditional love of the drivers for this long-haul event has ensured it's continued survival.
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Rally plate from the inaugural WRC edition of 1977.
Event was known as Motogard Rally from 1979 to 1982.
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| 1977:
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Bacchelli, Fulvio
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Fiat 131 Abarth
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87.23 km/h
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| 1979:
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Mikkola, Hannu
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Ford Escort RS1800
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81.27 km/h
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| 1980:
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Salonen, Timo
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Datsun 160J
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85.34 km/h
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| 1982:
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Waldegard, Bjorn
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Toyota Celica
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96.88 km/h
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| 1983:
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Rohrl, Walter
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Lancia Rally 037
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88.01 km/h
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| 1984:
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Blomqvist, Stig
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Audi quattro A2
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99.57 km/h
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| 1985:
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Salonen, Timo
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Peugeot 205 Turbo 16
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105.86 km/h
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| 1986:
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Kankkunen, Juha
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Peugeot 205 Turbo 16 E2
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99.67 km/h
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| 1987:
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Wittman, Franz
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Lancia Delta HF 4WD
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85.15 km/h
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| 1988:
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Haider, Josef
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Opel Kadett GSi
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79.89 km/h
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| 1989:
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Carlsson, Ingvar
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Mazda 323 4WD
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85.02 km/h
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| 1990:
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Sainz, Carlos
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Toyota Celica GT-4 (ST165)
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88.07 km/h
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| 1991:
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Sainz, Carlos
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Toyota Celica GT-4 (ST165)
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90.68 km/h
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| 1992:
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Sainz, Carlos
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Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD (ST185)
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88.53 km/h
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| 1993:
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McRae, Colin
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Subaru Legacy RS
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90.64 km/h
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| 1994:
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McRae, Colin
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Subaru Impreza 555
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88.73 km/h
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| 1995:
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McRae, Colin
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Subaru Impreza 555
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89.87 km/h
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| 1997:
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Eriksson, Kenneth
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Subaru Impreza WRC97
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93.47 km/h
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| 1998:
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Sainz, Carlos
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Toyota Corolla WRC
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92.08 km/h
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| 1999:
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Makinen, Tommi
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VI
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95.53 km/h
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| 2000:
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Gronholm, Marcus
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Peugeot 206WRC (2000)
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99.47 km/h
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| 2001:
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Burns, Richard
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Subaru Impreza WRC2001
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100.88 km/h
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| 2002:
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Gronholm, Marcus
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Peugeot 206WRC (2002)
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103.39 km/h
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| 2003:
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Gronholm, Marcus
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Peugeot 206WRC (2002)
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107.44 km/h
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| 2004:
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Solberg, Petter
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Subaru Impreza WRC2004
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97.86 km/h
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| 2005:
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Loeb, Sebastien
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Citroen Xsara WRC
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99.35 km/h
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| 2006:
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Gronholm, Marcus
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Ford Focus RS WRC 06
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87.64 km/h
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| 2007:
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Gronholm, Marcus
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Ford Focus RS WRC 07
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91.09 km/h
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| 2008:
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Loeb, Sebastien
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Citroen C4 WRC
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88.51 km/h
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| 2010:
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Latvala, Jari-Matti
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Ford Focus RS WRC 09
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97.43 km/h
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| 2012:
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Loeb, Sebastien
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Citroen DS3 WRC
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101.43 km/h
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| 2022:
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Rovanpera, Kalle
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Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
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97.89 km/h
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Composite picture of rally ballet
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Continuously from one corner to the next one over smooth road surface with changing camber - this is why drivers love these roads.
(Photo: SWRT.COM)
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Rolling green hills and rally car
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Coastal stages provide breathtaking scenery
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Driver wins
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Gronholm, Marcus (5)
Sainz, Carlos (4)
Loeb, Sebastien (3)
McRae, Colin (3)
Salonen, Timo (2)
Bacchelli, Fulvio (1)
Blomqvist, Stig (1)
Burns, Richard (1)
Carlsson, Ingvar (1)
Eriksson, Kenneth (1)
Haider, Josef (1)
Kankkunen, Juha (1)
Latvala, Jari-Matti (1)
Makinen, Tommi (1)
Mikkola, Hannu (1)
Rohrl, Walter (1)
Rovanpera, Kalle (1)
Solberg, Petter (1)
Waldegard, Bjorn (1)
Wittman, Franz (1)
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Manufacturer wins
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Subaru (6)
Toyota (6)
Peugeot (5)
Ford (4)
Citroen (3)
Lancia (2)
Audi (1)
Datsun (1)
Fiat (1)
Mazda (1)
Mitsubishi (1)
Opel (1)
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