Local roads give Kerikeri an edge

Kerikeri's "Team Dilusi" are geared up and ready to go for this weekend's Rally of Whangarei after a recent testing in Maramarua forest, south of Auckland.
Joining as team manager for this event  is Kerikeri resident Grant Clearwater, who brings to the table his expertise as a former  international Mitsubishi WRC.
 As a result of the successful testing session, driver Kingsley Thompson is looking forward to this weekend. "For the first time all season I feel confident in the car and the team. Being the closest local event in the National Championship and on familiar roads, the boys are hoping for a great result,"
the Kerikeri  helicopter pilot says.
The third round of the New Zealand Rally Championship also doubles as the third round of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championships, with top Asia Pacific drivers such as Japan's Katsu Taguchi and India's Gaurav Gill competing for the title.
The rally begins on Thursday with a reconnaissance session,  allowing drivers and co-drivers to familiarise themselves with the  stages and to write pace notes.
"Recent changes to the way we write our pace notes is proving to be very beneficial,"  says co-driver Mal Peden.
Promotional events such as a "shake down", or final car test, at Pohe Island and driver autograph sessions will  kick off on Friday.
The rally itself stretches across Saturday and Sunday with  16 special stages.
The team will also sell  Dilusi merchandise at the service park  at the Quayside Town Basin Whangarei over the weekend.