Rally organisers see quality in small entry field

Marcus Gronholm

Rally New Zealand has one of its lowest entries, but organisers believe the quality more than offsets the drop in numbers.

A total of 48 cars have been entered for next month's world championship event, with only 15 from local drivers. But the November 17-19 event will have the top contenders from the world rally and the world production car championships and both those titles could be decided here.

Ford's Marcus Gronholm won the last round of the world championship in Turkey and can still overtake defending champion Sebastien Loeb, who has been sidelined from his Citroen by a cycling injury. Loeb may well be fit to drive in New Zealand, where he won last year.

A full field of 15 production car championship contenders have entered the Hamilton-based rally and that title will definitely be decided at the New Zealand round. Top Kiwis Richard Mason and Chris West have wildcard entries in the class and could affect the outcome. Rally New Zealand chief executive Paul Mallard said yesterday that the drop in local entries for the Propecia-sponsored rally had been expected because of the November date when most teams had used up their budgets in the local season.

Next year the rally would be in September and could provide a fitting finale to the local action.