Rally Route offers excellent action!

With the 0800 Boxman Rally of Nelson just around the corner on the 20/21st September, the organising committee are busy putting the finishing touches to the major event, which has been made possible by the support of Boxman Group, who specialise in shipping containers and storage in New Zealand.

The rally route is all set, with 9 special stages taking place on Sunday the 21st September south of Nelson.

SS1 & SS3: TOP OF THE SOUTH SERVICE CENTRE SHIRTCLIFFS- 33.92km

The same as last year. Starts off uphill and then along a ridge before joining a wonderful big wide main arterial forestry road. This is fast and flowing with a good hard base. After 11km there is a downhill section, which takes drivers to the popular spectator area at the bottom of the Dovedale Hill. From here is 5 km of public road up to the top of the hill and then back into the forest for another blast along some more of the fantastic arterial forestry road and finally a 6km down hill section to the finish.

Thank you to Gavin Peterson and the Top of the South Service Centre for supporting this stage. The Seatbelt Specialists - sale and installation - they also provide transmission servicing, air compressor rebuilds, hose and pipe repairs and transmission servicing.

SS2 & SS4: MITECH WELDERS TRASS VALLEY - 32.08km

The same as last year but 7.5km longer. Start in the valley floor and heads uphill through recently logged areas. At the top it joins back onto the main arterial forestry road for another taste of fast & furious action through to the top of the Spooners Range, where drivers pass through another popular spectator area, then heading west along narrower sections with couple of tight corners and down into the Motueka Valley. Road surfaces similar to Stage 1 – great gravel roads with good hard bases with changing surfaces the last few kms.

SS7: MITECH WELDERS SCHULTZ RD - 16.36km

A 3km climb from the start before joining the latter part of SS2 & SS4 for another pass through the spectator area then off to the finish down in the Motueka Valley. These stages and the well-known Dovedale Spectator area are brought to you by Mitech Welders. They offer quality machines manufactured by Mitech of China. PMTMOTORSPORT is the Mitech appointed sole importer and distributor for NZ. Full service and parts back up means you can buy in confidence. The Mitech cars of Paul and Matt Jansen will be in action at the 0800 Boxman Rally of Nelson.

SS5 & SS8: MTF DIRECT NELSON RIDGE 14 - 18.00km

Starts in at the top of Kerrs Hill, very quickly links onto last years SS5 then along the ridgelines with some yumps and tight bits. The stage then connects into great roads used in the past, this section is a drivers dream, flowing corners, then another wide section of road leading down to a concrete ford not far from the finish. Again nice hard based gravel forestry roads. Without the support of a sponsor like MTF Direct, it would not be possible to stage such an event. MTF Direct is a nationwide franchise network offering simple, affordable finance solutions to businesses and individuals alike. MTF Direct can approve your loan on the spot, saving you time and frustration.

SS6 & SS9: PAUL NICOLL – SUMMIT REAL ESTATE SPOONERS TOP - 8.35km

A short blast along a wide fast ridge. Most of this stage is in open forests. Another good hard based road with a few corners to slow drivers down.

Competing in the NZ Truth Rally Xtreme Challenge final here in Nelson, local driver and Real Estate agent Paul Nicoll is always keen to support his local club. Located at the Stoke branch of Summit Real Estate, Paul has over 22 years of retail experience.

The car display and driver signing sessions are set to take place at World of Wearable Arts and Classic Cars on Saturday 20th from 1:30 pm with the Ceremonial start kicking off at 3:00 pm.

First Car leaves on Sunday morning from Wakefield at 7:30am, to head to Special Stage 1. Spectator access to this stage, and when it is repeated as stage 3 is located at the bottom of the Dovedale Hill, Pigeon Valley side proudly supported by Mitech Welders.

Be sure to check out the spectator location supported by Leitch Contracting at the Top of the Spooners range, where the cars will pass through on three separate occasions as part of special stages 2, 4 and 7, so it will be worth sticking around to see the action.

The Service Park is also supported by Leitch Contracting and will once again be situated in the township of Tapawera, where the cars will make three stops throughout the day. Spectator Maps are available at NCL Innerspace/Boxman, Nelson Bays Suzuki and Subaru, Houston Motors, World of Wearable Arts and Classic Cars and Fifeshire House.

Event information can be obtained at ww.rallynelson.co.nz.