Kaukapakapa. Give it a go. Don’t think about it, have one quick look and give it a go. Not as easy as it looks. Especially when your boss is staring at you and expecting delivery.
I stuttered. Struggled. Failed. We missed the junction and had to turn around.
“Pass me the map,” came the pleasant, but testy instruction from the journalistic legend that was David Williams.
I handed it to him and pointed at that word.
“Ah, Kaukapakapa,” he said.
Cow-kapa-kapa.
He grinned. “Why didn’t you just say so…”
He loved New Zealand. Loved it. DKW was all about the rallying, but rugby, cricket and a cold pint of Speight’s were right up there once we touched down in the City of Sails.
It’s been too long. A decade. How could we let that happen? Actually, don’t answer that. Let’s look forward to September and not back to 2012.
The route for what’s sure to be one of the season’s highlights has just been revealed and it’s an absolute belter.
A short belter, but a belter, nonetheless.
Based out of Auckland’s waterfront, the Repco Rally Village and service park will be the hub for most of the event.
But Thursday (September 29) morning, we’ll decamp to Helensville Rugby Club (pictured above) on Awaroa Road, north of the city. Shakedown runs on Inland Road – a stretch of gravel which is all NZ with no end of cambers to surf and corners to slide.
An Auckland city stage a few hours later gets the real competition underway.
Friday morning’s where it’s at though. And, like the last one, it’s south to Raglan – one of the coolest, surfiest spots on the planet. It’s also home to Colin Clark’s favorite hotel in the world. Not going to tell you which one, in case you try to book it… (I know, there aren’t many hotels in Raglan, so the process of elimination might not take that long!)
Raglan sits just north of one of the world’s most famous rally roads: Whaanga Coast. The class of 2022 will take two shots at a stage with the most astonishing view of the Tasman ever. But there’s more to Whaanga Coast than the seaside aspect. It’s a stage packed with rhythm change, dipping in and out of the trees and diving in and out of inlets and coves.
To complement the coast road, you absolutely have to take both Te Akau North and South. Clerk of the course Stuart Barnett agrees. Of course he does.
No Auckland service on day one. It’s Raglan for a tire zone and Raglan Roast for what’s sure to be the best cup of coffee of the year. It’s all-time, to coin a phrase from those who’ve just caught the morning set at the end of the road.
Saturday’s back towards Helensville for Kaipara Hills, Puhoi and Komokoriki, stages split by service in Auckland.
Sunday’s all around the city and not far from Manukau, where the event historically enjoyed a hugely popular superspecial. Not this year.
The organizers have taken the superspecial and turned it into Jack’s Ridge Haunui. Well known Kiwi driver Andrew Hawkeswood’s purpose-built venue will offer the perfect powerstage. It’s supplemented by the Te Maraunga Waiko forest stage as well.
The final day’s an odd one, starting much later: first stage at 1032 with the powerstage coming at 1518. This probably has something to do with the fact that there’s barely 20 miles on the final day.
The shortness of the belter is the only observation. After waiting 10 years and the vast majority of the WRC entry having spent a day on a plane to get there, it would have been nice to see more of the country. What about Batley or Waipu Gorge?
It is a remarkable collection of the most famous stages that have given Rally New Zealand the mantle as having the world’s best flowing gravel roadsRally New Zealand Clerk of the course Stuart Barnett
Here’s Barnett’s take: “It is a remarkable collection of the most famous stages that have given Rally New Zealand the mantle as having the world’s best flowing gravel roads.
“Add to that an opening Super Special Stage at Auckland Domain, the spectacular stages north and south of the city, and an exciting spectacle at Jacks Ridge, and this promises to be an event offering a range of spectacular viewing opportunities.
“Repco Rally New Zealand could not be a better advertisement for Tāmaki Makaurau where a global television audience of more than 70 million fans will see the diverse landscapes of our region.”
Still would’ve fancied a run up to Paparoa, but, hey, it’s the land of the long white cloud. We’ll take Aotearoa in whatever shape or form it’s served.
Thursday September 29-Sunday October 2 are the dates for the diary.
