Motorsport: Whangarei rally set for July

Emma Gilmour faceplants her Subaru during last year's International Rally of Whangarei. Photo / Ron Burgin

The international motor rally of Whangarei set for July has attracted a top international field including former world rally championship drivers Briton Alister McRae and Australian Chris Atkinson.

The rally, from July 15-17, doubles as the fourth round of the Asia-Pacific championship as well as the New Zealand championship.

"Fourteen drivers from Japan, China, Britain, Australia, India, Malaysia, France (New Caledonia) and New Zealand are confirmed to compete in the rally," organising chairman Laurie Brenssell said.

New Zealand's challenge will be led by three-times winner Hayden Paddon, who won the production world rally championship round in Portugal last weekend.

Paddon, a double national champion, is competing in the four-wheel-drive production car (Group N 4WD) category in Whangarei where he'll be up against national champion Dean Sumner, from Rotorua, and other former champions Richard Mason, from Masterton, and Chris West, from Christchurch.

- NZPA