Maihiihi will host the Hoddle Road rally sprint on Sunday.
Thames Valley’s Carlin Leong in action. Photo: Geoff Ridder Photography
The event comes ahead of September’s Waitomo Rally, part of the North Island Rally Series and is a round of the Northern Rallysprint Series.
As it offers an exciting, although challenging run, the race attracts a solid crowd and number of entrants, round organiser Lukas Ramsay said.
“Hoddle Road used to be a WRC (World Rally Championship) test road, so it is high profile. It has lots of camber, but it’s fast and requires technical skill to drive as well – it has a bit of everything for every driver.”
The road is, effectively, Hamilton Car Club’s home ground.
“We use the sports ground as well as Maihiihi School to service the vehicles,” Ramsay said. “The community has been really supportive ever since we started racing there in 2022.”
Beginning in northern Waikato in March, the rallysprint series is now tight at the top.
“There are three drivers that have a real chance to win but anything can happen on the day,” Ramsay said.
Carlin Leong (Thames Valley Car Club) and Northland’s Ben Huband are locked on level pegging at the top of the overall standings. Sam Broadbent, also Thames Valley, is just a few points behind.
Auckland’s Hibiscus Coast Motorsport Club isn’t too far in front in the club categories and, as it’s a veritable traffic jam in various class contests.
The course is shorter than an average rally stage.
“The road’s nine kilometres long and we race it four times. After each time, you come back to the sports ground, service your car, check it over, maybe change the tyres and you go and do it all again.”
Ramsay has competed in a few races in this year’s series but he’ll be side-lined at Hoddle Road.
“I can’t race this round because I’m organising it, but I’ve raced there three years in a row so I know the road pretty well. That is an advantage, to a point, because drivers don’t get to travel the road before the event.
“Every year, we have a little competition for Rallysprint of the Year and Hoddle Road won it in ‘23,” Ramsay said. “I think it’s one of the best in the series and there’s a fair few people who would agree with me on that.”
Ben Huband in the race for a series win. Photo courtesy of Geoff Ridder Photography
