Jagger on course for repeat win

Rally of the North returns to the region's roads tomorrow with a field of 38 local and visiting competitors revving up to contest the annual event.

The rally leaves Paihia at regular intervals from 7am tomorrow to contest the 14.45km stage one, from Oromahoe Rd near Opua and over to State Highway 10 at Oromohoe.

The competitors then head west to the Hokianga and eventually finish back in Paihia after battling 180km worth of special stages and touring 230km in between stages throughout the day.

While numbers are down on last year's 54 entries, the quality of competitors is high.

Last year's winner Ben Jagger and co-driver Ben Hawkins are seeded No1.

The Whangarei pair will try for a second consecutive title in their SeedForce Subaru WRX Impreza, on the back of an intense campaign in the New Zealand Rally Championship earlier this year.

Although not part of the national championship calendar, NZRC contender Ben Jagger looks forward to the Rally of the North, saying it has become one of his favourite events.

"I really like this event, we have the best [rally] roads in New Zealand up here and especially the ones further up north they use in this rally. They are just so well- cambered and well-maintained it makes it an enjoyable rally," Jagger said.

The event won't be an easy task for Jagger, who will have his closest rival tucked right behind him on the road - Team Dilusi's Kingsley Thompson and co-driver Aaron Conaghan from Kerikeri, who are also aiming for a podium finish, in their home rally.

Thompson and Jagger are the only Northland drivers to contest the national championships this season. After completing some pre-event testing in preparation for the rally, Team Dilusi have confidence in their car, a Mitsubishi Evo 10 affectionately known as Lucy. The No2 seeds have made improvements to help cope with the loose gravel they will encounter due to starting behind Jagger and Hawkins.

"Our high road position is perfect for us as we will be able to see Ben's race lines when we come through, so it will definitely be an advantage. Of course, local knowledge of the roads also helps," Thompson said.

Any one of the top 10 drivers has the ability to win this event which means the pressure will be on from the first stage.

Starting fifth at the last NZ Championship round in Napier recently, the Dilusi Team worked their way up to second overall, proving the Thompson/Conaghan pairing has what it takes to repeat their victory in 2007.

Other Northland drivers racing tomorrow include Doug Adnitt and co-driver Tony Mabett (ninth seed) in their Subaru Impreza, Michael Rope and Michelle Mitchell (19th seed), also driving a Subaru Impreza, 29th seeds Dermott Malley and Linzi Malley, driving a Ford Fiesta and siblings Brendan Oakden and Natasha Oakden (No8 seeds) in a Subaru Impreza. Also driving a Subaru Impreza is 11th seeds Ben Haselden and Tom Clancey, while John Tee (28th seed) and Bruce Henty (30th seed) will also line up.