KEY POINTS:
Marcus Gronholm's $2.4 million rally car has travelled more than 35,000km to get to Hamilton's Mystery Creek since finishing the Australian rally in Perth two weeks ago.
Having rolled the vehicle in the last race, Gronholm's team had to fly the car back to the UK for an urgent rebuild, then fly it back to New Zealand within 10 days.
After the whirlwind operation, the engine - which stayed in Australasia because of race requirements - is being dropped back into the car in preparation for this week's penultimate round of the World Rally Champs through the Waikato.
"All the teams have a complete overhaul before their next race, but the Ford needed to go back to Europe because it was badly damaged," Rally New Zealand general manager Paul Mallard said at the Mystery Creek base yesterday.
"So they're rebuilding the cars at the moment. They do a complete refit, the engines, the suspension, brakes, seats, everything."
He said eight months preparation for hosting of the New Zealand round was about to pay off, and admitted to being a little apprehensive before it formally begins on Thursday.
"We have the shakedown then. It'll be the first chance for the teams and drivers to test their cars. Then we'll go to Hood St in Hamilton for the rally show and ceremonial start. It'll be the first chance for people to see the drivers and get autographs, it should be very much a festival kind of atmosphere."
Mr Mallard said the rally was big business. "It's Formula One on gravel. The top teams have an annual budget of €40-50 million ($77-96 million)."
The worldwide audience of the rally was estimated at 800 million, he said.
There are 36 international teams with drivers from 16 different countries competing in the three days of competition.
This year's rally is expected to bring $20 million into the country, much of it in the Hamilton region in accommodation, food, and retailing.
Four days of high-rev excitement
* Begins on Thursday with the "shake down" at a special Mystery Creek course, followed by the ceremonial start that evening in Hood St, Hamilton.
* Competition, however, revs up on Friday, with special stages at Pirongia West, Te Koraha and Mystery Creek.
* Leg two begins on Saturday, with five stages at Port Waikato, Klondyke, and Wairamarama, Te Akau, and Mystery Creek.
* Final day on Sunday will see special stages at Raglan and a ceremonial finish at Mystery Creek.
* The press contingent will number about 300.
* Approximately 40 helicopters will be used to cover differing roles during the three-day event.
* $15,000 worth of pyrotechnics are on hand to mark celebrations.
* The event requires 2500 rally officials and volunteers.
* Keep an eye out for international driving stars Dani Sordo, Marcus Gronholm, Chris Atkinson, Petter Solberg, and Valentino Rossi, Xavier Pons and Sebastian Loeb (not competing but will be at the event).
