Taranaki Tarmac Rally To Be Hotly Contested By NI Rally Series Competitors
Quentin Palmer (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) stamped his mark on the 2025 NIRS season after taking first round honours in early May winning the Ruarangi Rd Rallysprint. It was his first outing in his new Skoda, and he beat home last season's champion Phil Campbell (Ford Fiesta AP4).
"Taranaki will be interesting for us," commented Palmer. "Our car originally came into NZ as a tarmac car before being converted to gravel spec. I definitely have to do some tarmac practice, and we have a lot of setup changes to make.'
However, traditionally the Taranaki Tarmac Rally has been the domain of bitumen specialists and last year's winner Cameron Ross/Matthew Buer (Subaru Impreza) is seeded first and will be hard to beat as will second seed David Rogers (Mitsubishi Evo 10). Also making an appearance in the North Island and not to be discounted is Marcus van Klink (Mazda RX8) who will start third on the road ahead of Palmer.
The rally comprises 204kms of Touring Stags and nine Special Stages totalling 124kms with four of them being repeated. As per MotorSport NZ Tarmac Rally requirements this event runs with 200 Kilometer per hour speed limit. The new route includes the infamous tunnels and the spectacular Inglewood yumps.
Co-Chairman Sean Bryce said 'The Rally Committee are excited about the new route and location of this years Rally and hope this Event will go down well with the residents, local community and the competitors'
Missing from the start list is last season's NIRS champion Phil Campbell (Ford Fiesta AP4). Current Class C (2WD 1601-2000) leader, John Whooley (Honda Civic) will look to extend his lead while in Class D (2WD 2001 and over), Charlie Evans (Mazda RX7) resumes his battle with Jeff Torkington (Toyota MR2).
In the Classic Class E, Kyle Percival (Ford Escort Mk2) will have his hands full. Palmer will want to extend his lead in Class F (4WD 1601-2000) as will Ben Hubbard (Subaru Impreza) in Class G (4WD 2001 and over) and Bradley Stewart (Subaru Impreza) in Class I (4WD Pre 1996).
Scholarship recipients (with a discounted entry fee) are first time rookies young Samuel and Matthew Broadbent (Mitsubishi Evo) from Ngatea who have been showing fast pace at recent Rallysprints.
The Clubman's and National Rally is promoted by the Taranaki Car Club in conjunction with the South Taranaki Car Club, and will take place in the New Plymouth and North Taranaki regions. The first car gets away from the Plymouth International Hotel at 07.00 hours, starting Special Stage 1 at 07.30hrs, returning at approximately 16.00 hours to the Plymouth for the champagne finish and after match meal and prizegiving.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
16-07-2025
- NZ Herald
On The Up: In the palm of his hand – Hawke's Bay shot putter Nick Palmer closes in on world championships dream
Palmer saved his best for last to snatch victory from German Eric Maihofer, who had thrown 20.09m, but has a career-best of 20.37m. Some of the world's best competitors in their events were at the meeting, including Olympic Games women's shot put champion and German idol Yemisi Ogunleye. Palmer's efforts lifted him from 62nd to 44th in the world rankings in just three days, and with each country allowed no more than three representatives, the Ireland win had elevated him to 23rd in qualifying for September's World Championships in Tokyo, for which the quota is 36. Among the criteria for New Zealand selection is the potential to finish in the top 16, and Palmer told Hawke's Bay Today he now needs to hit a New Zealand team selection standard of 20.50m. He says a place in the top 16 in the championships rankings is also in his sights. With a goal of joining Kiwi medal prospects Tom Walsh and Jacko Gill at the World Championships, Palmer has timed his form to the moment. He's heading straight to the World University Games in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, where the shot put is contested on the weekend of July 23-24. Palmer developed his interest in the shot put after a flash of inspiration while fishing on the beach in Napier when he was 10. 'I picked up a rock on the beach and chucked it a long way,' he once said. 'My dad used to do athletics and he thought that I could be good at this.' He competed in the shot put and discus at the 2014 Colgate Children's Games and won the shot put, his 'first decent victory'. As a pupil of Karamu High School in Hastings, Palmer was the Hawke's Bay Secondary Schools Sports Awards Supreme award winner in 2017, heading off teams award winners and national schools rugby First XV champions Hastings Boys' High School and female sportsperson of the year and future national women's 200m sprint champion Georgia Hulls. He was at the time ranked No 6 on the World Under-18 men's shot put list, after winning the Under-18 title at the Australian Athletice Championships. Palmer is now based in Christchurch so that he can train with Walsh, and is also studying psychology through Massey University. Doug Laing is a senior reporter based in Napier with Hawke's Bay Today and has 52 years of journalism experience, 42 of them in Hawke's Bay, in news gathering, including breaking news, sports, local events, issues and personalities.
Scoop
14-07-2025
- Scoop
Palmer Cleans Up The Taranaki Tarmac Rally; Increases Lead In NI Rally Series
Quentin Palmer (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) continued to stamp his mark on the 2025 Hawkeswood Mining North Island Rally Series (NIRS) after winning every stage of the SBT Group Taranaki Tarmac one-day rally held on Saturday and taking overall victory. Second NIRS competitor home was William Menzies/Doug Dolan (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) ahead of Bradley Stewart/Oliver Drake (Subaru Impreza). 'Definitely thrilled to take the win,' commented Palmer. 'With Cameron (Ross) and David (Rogers) as (overall) favourites I didn't expect to do well, so was surprised to find I won the opening stage ahead of them.' With two Special Stages cancelled (SS 3 and 4) Palmer and co-driver Dayna Kiekebosch went on to win all seven other competitive stages finishing 1min 34 sec ahead of Marcus van Klink/Matt Richards (Mazda RX8). Competing in his first tarmac rally, Menzies came home a solid second in the NIRS standings and third overall. He was also awarded the 'Driver of the Day' trophy. 'I wasn't sure what to expect,' said Menzies. 'It was completely different as my car is set up quite tight for gravel. I was on rally tyres which worked out in the end. I heard rain falling in the middle of the night so was confident it was going to work. 'There were a couple of dry stages where the car was moving around. Other than that, it felt great as it was quite wet at times, so it worked out. Thrilled with the result and really encouraged by it.' The competition for the final podium position was close between Stewart and Charlie Evans (Mazda RX7). The latter was holding on to third until he suffered a rally-ending mechanical with one Special Stage to complete, handing the place to Stewart. Fourth were Chris Ramsay/Amy Hudson (Toyota Corolla APR2) ahead of Ben Huband/Corinne Watson (Subaru Impreza). The SBT Group Taranaki Tarmac Rally incorporated the second round of the NIRS which saw Palmer extend his lead to 34-points over Huband and Menzies who sit second equal with Dave Strong in fourth followed by Stewart and Phil Campbell. 'We must have got the (tarmac) setup right,' said Palmer who moved up to the Skoda Fabia Rally2 car this season. 'We got some good advice heading into the rally and I'm feeling more comfortable in the car, although there is plenty more to learn. It is my first rally win so thrilled to have achieved that.' In the Class results, John Whooley (Honda Civic) has extended his lead in Class C (2WD 1601-2000) while in Class D (2WD 2001 and over), Charlie Evans' (Mazda RX7) retirement saw Ramsay take maximum points while Jeff Torkington (Toyota MR2) retains his lead. In the Classic Class E, 18-year-old novice and recipient of the RallyDrive New Zealand full day testing voucher, Kyle Percival (Ford Escort Mk2), also extends his lead over Nick Flanagan. Palmer continues to lead Class F (4WD 1601-2000) while Ben Huband (Subaru Impreza) has had his lead narrowed to just three-points over Menzies in Class G (4WD 2001 and over). Bradley Stewart (Subaru Impreza) moves to 13-points ahead of Chris Burke in Class I (4WD Pre 1996). Both drivers and teams take a break before the third round of the Hawkeswood Mining North Island Rally Series on 23 August 2025 at Rally Coromandel.
Otago Daily Times
10-07-2025
- Otago Daily Times
Will there be more surprises?
And then there were four! As can happen in top-six playoffs the top three seeds, Taieri, Dunedin and Varsity, all got beaten to see Dunedin and Varsity bundled out of the semis. Taieri stay in the race by virtue of the fact they were the top qualifiers going into the weekend. Taieri, with their starting backline out in the quarterfinal, were always going to be a long shot to win at the weekend and so it proved. Their pack ground out a lead over Kaikorai but the lads from the high veldt scored two late tries to extinguish the finals aspirations of Dunedin and Varsity. Dunedin only have themselves to blame after leading the comp for the majority of the season, only to capitulate in their last two games. They gave up top spot with a sub-par display against the Eels a couple of weeks ago, then got destroyed in the second half by a heavyweight Southern pack after leading going into the break. They pulled their two biggest players off in the second half, Wingham and Palmer, and certainly paid a very heavy price. Varsity looked the favorites against Harbour to go through but the Hawks held their discipline, went out to a lead and deservedly held on to unbelievably end up as the top qualifiers. This means they get a home semi at the Cockabilly Cauldron and, as we know, it is hard to win down there. Southern host Kaik at Bog Bathgate and Kaik won't be looking forward to that. Tell me it's not so Otago have not named a squad for the season as yet and I hear it's because, once again, they are bringing players in from outside the province to fill perceived holes. The rumour is three players, one from Christchurch (possible midfielder) and two from Australia, one being a lock. It hasn't worked over the past few years — just look at our track record. How can our Otago board let this happen? Who is paying for this? I know I sound like a broken record but when are we going to wake up? All I hear is "pathways" and all I see are "no exits". The only upside is at least we are not Southland. They've named 31 players and how many of those are genuinely out of club rugby? Not many that I can see. Down on the farm Up North it's finals time with Excelsior, the defending champions, hosting Valley. This is the third year in a row (boring!) these teams have met with honours being even so far. There will be nothing in this final but I'm tipping Excelsior may make it two straight. In the deep South, Pirates Old Boys, the top qualifiers, take on Woodlands for the time-honoured Galbraith Shield and again it's hard to pick. POB have been the best team all year so I'll stick with them to win it all at Rugby Park tomorrow. In the South it's semifinals time, with top qualifier Clutha hosting the prison guards from Toko and the West Taieri Pigs at home to the Crescent Coalminers. In Central, defending champions Upper Clutha are hosting the Maniototo Maggots on the lake front. The Wanaka boys, who also hold the "Horse", have been the best team all year, and should just be too good for the Maggots. Wakatip host Alex in the other semi in Queenstown, with both teams coming off losses. Wakatip lost to Upper Clutha and Alex are on "oxygen support" after going down to the Matak mudfish, my new favourite team. The big news out of that game was big lock Chris Nolan unbelievably played his 300th for Matak. It would have been monumental in Omakau last Saturday night/Sunday morning in the burgh. Good on ya mate — stunning achievement. The victors' ale would have been sweet. Oh, by the way, Wakatip win — just. Clarification There has been a bit of confusion over what happened to the Arrow Bulls v Maggots game at the weekend. Stop ringing Maggots coach Charlie Hore because as per usual I have the answer. Arrowtown defaulted Tuesday week ago as they couldn't field a team. The Maggots offered to play Friday night if that helped but Arrow were still struggling for numbers. Stick with me I'll take you to the top!! Test-match rugby We have certainly been spoilt with Super Rugby this year as we have sped the game up. However, we have been living in a "false down" as we are now back under international rules. The game at the Greenhouse was at times farcical with the three disallowed tries and the time it took to come up with a decision. What's the point of speeding up the game when it took us nearly 10 minutes to make those decisions, especially when one of them was clearly wrong!! We are seriously in danger of spectators saying enough is enough and starting voting with their feet and wallets. Don't get me started on the fact that we have a TMO for foul play and another for general play — sheer bloody lunacy! This weekend You'll be pleased to know yours truly picked none from three in town last week — some expert. Soundly beaten for the second week in a row, this time by "Bilbo" from Speight's. Anyway, I'm back on the horse and up against the mein host of both the Mornington and Cableways, Arvi Singh, who, I'm assured, is not the biggest follower of rugby so I'll still probably lose! Harbour are at home to Taieri at Port so the conditions will not be good (they hardly ever are) and underfoot it'll be great for the geese. Taieri have Cam Miller back but there is no Sam Fischli or Matt Whaanga because Southland have not released them. Southland are fast losing all credibility in this town with their attitude to club rugby. It is nearly time for us to get really grumpy. So Harbour (12-) go into this game as favourites, especially with Hastie back at nine. The Taieri pack are as good as any but the Harbour pack are big and with Hastie and Miln running the cutter they may get it done, but the Eels will be right in it. Southern are at home to Kaik and on that track, with their heavyweight pack, go in as big favourites. Throw in Mackenzie Palmer directing traffic and the Magpies (12-) win. On the farm in Central last week I drew with Lyn Jaffray and I win all draws. On to the southern semis this week and up against Tom Hollows from Hollow Timber and a local rugby legend. I'm up against it but I go well in the country so Tom goes down. Clutha (13+) have been the best team all year so they will dispatch the prison guards from Toko comfortably. West Taieri (12-) are at home at the Market Garden against Crescent and in their jubilee year should get it done.
