Now that Rally New Zealand has released preliminary details of the route, we can now refine our planning for Rally Tours WRC Rally New Zealand 2012 event. Rally Tours are excited with the organiser's proposed route and festivities that will make this Rally NZ the best ever.

 

The Rally NZ organizing committee is also celebrating the announcement of a new naming right sponsor. "BROTHER" International (NZ) Ltd has agreed to a 3 year sponsorship agreement for both the RNZ WRC event and Rally Whangarei which is a round of the Asia Pacific competition.

 

Initial details of our 2012 Rally New Zealand Tour are now available on our website. Visit http://www.rallytours.co.nz/Rally-Tours/2012-RNZ-Tour-Itinerary-Booking.asp bookings and enquires have started rolling in from all around the world from our loyal clients and new rally enthusiasts alike.

 

Rally spectating in NZ is different from other parts of the world. We do not have the same sized crowds as european events. We also provide some exclusive viewing points specially arranged with the Rally organisers. We travel on the stages to our viewing points in our small and comfortable mini coaches and often travel out of the stages after the sweeper car. The days are long and we get to see the maximum amount of viewing possible and spend little or no time cooped up in a corporate tent. The lunches are great but not fancy.

 

We have again selected and made a block booking for our "4 star Rally Hotel" offering our customers a considerable saving over normal rates. The Grand Chancellor is conveniently located 1500m from the service park, and within 5 minutes foot access of downtown Auckland, so we intend to make this the centre of our tour. Our tours will depart and return to our selected hotel each day. In addition to its central location, this hotel has a very good exercise room with lap pool and sauna. A selection of studio, suite and apartments will be available on a first in first served basis. Please see the website for the costs. As we have done in the past we do offer an economy accommodation option not far away at the Accor "All Seasons" hotel (formally Formula1"). Although small, it is comfortable and will provide you with a good night's rest if a comfortable bed at an economy price is your only criteria. We have 40 rooms booked in each hotel be quick to reserve.

 

This year the Rally HQ will be in the "Auckland Events Centre" at the Wynyard Quarter, which is a redeveloped area just next to the Viaduct Harbour. The WRC service area will be within 300m. There are bars and restaurants in the immediate vicinity and as part of the Gold Tour package there will be a group dinner at a nearby restaurant. You never know who may drop into visit our group for dinner.

 

We have been running tours for Rally New Zealand since 1999 and we expect 2012 to be our best yet. We continually try to improve our tours, and combined with our experience we are confident you will not be disappointed.

 

Our vehicles are all driven by drivers with passenger service endorsements and our rally guides are all experienced in the sport. Rally Tours are very safety conscious organization, and while we take all prudent steps to ensure your safety, we would remind you that motorsport is dangerous. We provide a guide for each group on each bus and they will ensure that you know exactly what the program details are provide precise timings to ensure the smooth running and your enjoyment of the tour. We are expecting to break our record this year and exceed hosting more than 12 different nationalities.

 

The Brother Rally New Zealand this year is being held in late June which is winter. At this time of the year in Auckland you can expect it to be cool (avg 9-15 degrees) and probably wet (monthly avg 120mm of rain). Wind chill can make it seem colder. Good footwear and warm clothes are recommended, and there is a good possibility of it being wet underfoot. Raincoats are also recommended, although we hope for four fine days.

 

Once the Official WRC Rally NZ 2012 apparel collection is announced we will offer our clients the chance to pre-purchase selected items at preferential prices so that you do not miss out.

 

The Helicopter ride option last year proved really popular with more than 40 clients opting to purchase a helicopter rally flight seeing ride at an affordable cost. We hired the machine for the day and 6 passengers at a time had approximately 15 minutes following mostly the top runners through the various stages. We would like to offer rides over the Whaanga Coast, Te Hutewai and Te Akau stages this year pending negotiations. More details on the helicopter rides as they become available. Expressions of interest are welcome.

 

Remember we are offering an early bird discount of $NZ100 if a reservation and full payment is received by the 29th February. If you need to talk about payment options please do not hesitate to contact Greg or John about our payment plans. If you really want to do this we can make it happen!! We look forward to your booking.

 

We will be running a tour to Rally Whangarei ex Auckland - so if you think you might like to see the Asia Pacific Championship round, and the first round of the New Zealand Rally Championships please get in touch info@rallytours.co.nz , or check our webpage.

 

For classic rally fans Rally Tours have also posted preliminary information for our "epay Silver Fern Rally" tour in November, info@rallytours.co.nz , or check our webpage. The Silver Fern is one awesome and unique event. Great historic rally cars from home and mostly abroad will tackle some of NZ's most iconic rally roads of yester-year. Come and support and be part of the Rally Tours crew in 2012 as Greg Paul and Iain Freestone (from Northampton UK) compete in a rare 1981 Talbot Sunbeam Lotus for top honours. More info on that soon and progress photos of the car preparation will materialize.

 

John will be going to Rally Otago and if there is any interest in an escorted tour to this event give us a call.

 

Rally Finland is also a runner again this year and we are looking to be there to support Hayden Paddon as he pushes hard in the SWRC Skoda Fabia to stamp his mark on this competitive class of rallying. Join us and support him in his quest to be the best in Finland the Mecca of Rallying.

 

Rally Tours are again involved in organizing and operating adventurous overland self drive tours in China, Russia and Europe. We have 7 classic cars departing from Shanghai to travel to London on a 56 day adventure on the 21st May. Straight after Rally NZ Greg heads to Vladivostok to lead our new and exciting "Trans-Siberian 4x4 trip via Mongolia to the UK. We still have spaces available on both tours so if you need an injection of excitement and yearn to participate in the driving trip of a lifetime, do it now while the exchange rate is kind to us in NZ. See our website for details.

 

Lastly, even more exciting news than the Rally NZ sponsor announcement.

 

John Kilpatrick who will be known to many of you as our very capable Rally Tours guide and a staunch supporter of the sport with an encyclopedic knowledge of local and international rallying has taken on the challenge of chief office administrator and general duties in the Rally Tours office. If he can help with any enquiries John can be contacted at info@rallytours.co.nz or john@rallytours.co.nz John's mobile is: +64-21-1365966

 

All the best . . .

 

Greg Paul
Rally Tours NZ Ltd
www.rallytours.co.nz
Mobile: +64-21-777523