New Zealand Rally Championship

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (March 2018)

New Zealand Rally Championship

Category	Rallying
Country	New Zealand
Inaugural season	1975
Drivers' champion	Hayden Paddon (2021)
Makes' champion	Hyundai Motor Company
Teams' champion	Paddon Rallysport
Official website	nzrallychampionship.co.nz

The New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) is New Zealand's leading off-road motor rally competition. A multi-event national championship has been held each year since 1975. Today the championship is held for a variety of classes based on engine capacity and further split by four or two wheel drive. The top class for a number of years has been the international Group N technical regulations and has been dominated by drivers of turbo-charged four wheel drive Mitsubishi Lancers and Subaru Imprezas.

The New Zealand Rally Championship has been a launching pad for the career of many New Zealand drivers. Rod Millen and Possum Bourne being the most notable. Recently Hayden Paddon has used the series as a springboard to international competition, competing in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship before moving on to the Production and Super 2000 World Rally Championships.

The championship was formed around the then newly created Rally New Zealand when it joined the World Rally Championship in 1977. Since then Rally New Zealand has frequently been the starring event of the NZRC and the event is current based in Auckland. The International Rally of Whangarei is also a round of the NZRC as well as being a round of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship. The current six round championship also takes in events based in Otago and Canterbury regions with two events based at Wairarapa.

Champions[]

Drivers[]

Sourced from:^[1]

Year	Driver	Vehicle
1975	Rod Millen	Mazda RX-3
1976	Rod Millen	Mazda RX-3
1977	Rod Millen	Mazda RX-3
1978	Blair Robson	Ford Escort RS1800
1979		Ford Escort RS1800
1980		Ford Escort RS1800
1981		Ford Escort RS1800
1982		Ford Escort RS1800
1983		Ford Escort RS1800
1984		Nissan 240RS
1985		Ford Escort RS
1986		Mazda RX-7
1987		MG Metro 6R4
1988		Ford Sierra 4x4
1989		Mazda 323 4WD
1990		Mazda 323 4WD
1991	Possum Bourne	Subaru Legacy
1992		Mazda 323 GTX
1993	Joe McAndrew	Subaru Legacy
1994	Joe McAndrew	Subaru Legacy
1995		Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
1996	Joe McAndrew	Subaru Legacy
1997		Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
1998		Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
1999		Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
2000		Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
2001		Subaru Impreza WRX
2002		Subaru Impreza WRX
2003		Subaru Impreza WRX
2004		Subaru Impreza WRX
2005		Subaru Impreza WRX
2006		Subaru Impreza WRX
2007		Subaru Impreza WRX
2008	Hayden Paddon	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
2009	Hayden Paddon	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
2010		Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
2011		Subaru Impreza WRX
2012		Subaru Impreza WRX
2013	Hayden Paddon	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2014		Subaru Impreza WRX
2015		Subaru Impreza WRX
2016		Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2017		Mazda 2 AP4+
2018	Hayden Paddon	Hyundai i20 AP4+
2019		Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2020	No 2020 Championship
2021	Hayden Paddon	Hyundai i20 AP4+

Co-Drivers[]

Sourced from:^[2]

Year	Co-Driver	Vehicle
1987	Greg Horne	MG Metro 6R4
1988	Robert Haldane	Ford Sierra 4x4
1989	Robert Haldane	Mazda 323 4WD
1990	Robert Haldane	Mazda 323 4WD
1991	Rodger Freeth	Subaru Legacy
1992	Jim Robb	Mazda 323 GTX
1993	Robert Haldane	Subaru Legacy
1994	Robert Haldane	Subaru Legacy
1995	Leo Bult	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
1996	Robert Haldane	Subaru Legacy
1997	Leo Bult	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
1998	Alan Glen	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
1999	Rob Ryan	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
2000	Rob Ryan	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
2001	Rob Ryan	Subaru Impreza WRX
2002	Rob Ryan	Subaru Impreza WRX
2003	Rob Ryan	Subaru Impreza WRX
2004	Garry Cowan	Subaru Impreza WRX
2005	Garry Cowan	Subaru Impreza WRX
2006	Sara Randall	Subaru Impreza WRX
2007	Rob Ryan	Subaru Impreza WRX
2008	John Kennard	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
2009	John Kennard	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
2010	Paul Fallon	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
2011	Sara Mason	Subaru Impreza WRX
2012	Sara Mason	Subaru Impreza WRX
2013	John Kennard	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2014	Sara Mason	Subaru Impreza WRX
2015	Tony Rawstorn	Subaru Impreza WRX
2016	Jason Farmer	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
2017	Jeff Cress	Mazda 2 AP4+
2018	Tony Rawstorn	Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2019	Tony Rawstorn	Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2020	No 2020 Championship
2021	John Kennard	Hyundai i20 AP4+

2WD[]

Drivers[]

Year	Class	Driver	Vehicle
2006	Historics	Robert Murray	Mazda RX-7
2007	FIA 2WD	Mark Tapper	Ford Fiesta ST
	Historics	Eaun Fuge	Mazda RX-3
2008	FIA 2WD	Patrick Malley	Ford Fiesta ST
	Historics	Robert Wylie	Nissan 240RS
2009	FIA 2WD	Ben Jagger	Ford Fiesta ST
	Historics	Mike Cameron	Mitsubishi Lancer
2010	FIA 2WD	Stephen Barker	Ford Fiesta ST
	Historics	Regan Ross	Ford Escort
2011	FIA 2WD	Ben Hunt	Ford Fiesta ST
	Historics	Robert Wylie	Nissan 240RS
2012	FIA 2WD	Ben Hunt	Ford Fiesta ST
	Open 2WD	David Holder	Toyota Levin
	Historics	Marcus van Klink	Mazda RX-7
2013	Overall	Josh Marston	Ford Fiesta R2
	FIA 2WD	Josh Marston	Ford Fiesta R2
	Open 2WD	Hamish Anderson	Toyota Levin
	Historics	Dean Buist	Ford Escort RS1800
2014	Overall	Max Bayley	Ford Fiesta R2
	FIA 2WD	Max Bayley	Ford Fiesta R2
	Open 2WD	Hamish Anderson	Toyota Levin
	Historics	Marcus van Klink	Mazda RX-7
2015	Overall	Max Bayley	Ford Fiesta R2
	FIA 2WD	Max Bayley	Ford Fiesta R2
	Open 2WD	Not Awarded
	Historics	Marcus van Klink	Mazda RX-7
2016	Overall	Dave Strong	Honda Civic
	FIA 2WD	Max Bayley	Ford Fiesta R2
	Open 2WD	Dave Strong	Honda Civic
	Historics	Marcus van Klink	Mazda RX-7
2017	Overall	Dylan Thomson	Ford Fiesta ST
	FIA 2WD	Dylan Thomson	Ford Fiesta ST
	Open 2WD	Anthony Jones	Ford Escort
	Historics	Tony Gosling	Ford Escort
2018	Overall	Dylan Thomson	Ford Fiesta ST
	FIA 2WD	Dylan Thomson	Ford Fiesta ST
	Open 2WD	Marcus van Klink	Mazda RX-8
	Historics	John Silcock	Mazda RX-3
2019	Overall	Marcus van Klink	Mazda RX-8
	FIA 2WD	Mike Sheehan	Ford Fiesta R2
	Open 2WD	Marcus van Klink	Mazda RX-8
	Historics	Jeff Judd	Ford Escort
2020	No 2020 Championship
2021	Overall	Dylan Thomson	Ford Fiesta ST
	FIA 2WD	Dylan Thomson	Ford Fiesta ST
	Open 2WD	Ari Pettigrew	BMW 318ti
	Historics	Anthony Jones	Ford Escort

Co-Drivers[]

Year	Class	Driver	Vehicle
2006	Historics	Deborah Kibble	Mazda RX-7
2007	FIA 2WD	Jeff Cress	Ford Fiesta ST
	Historics	Mike Gibbs	Mazda RX-3
2008	FIA 2WD	Raymond Bennett	Ford Fiesta ST
	Historics	Paul Turner	Nissan 240RS
2009	FIA 2WD	Ben Hawkins	Ford Fiesta ST
	Historics	Helen Cameron	Mitsubishi Lancer
2010	FIA 2WD	Richard Ellis	Ford Fiesta ST
	Historics	Darren Galbraith	Ford Escort
2011	FIA 2WD	Tony Rawstorn	Ford Fiesta ST
	Historics	Tim Smith	Nissan 240RS
2012	FIA 2WD	Tony Rawstorn	Ford Fiesta ST
	Open 2WD	James Holder	Toyota Levin
	Historics	Dave Neil	Mazda RX-7
2013	Overall	Venita Fabbro	Ford Fiesta R2
	FIA 2WD	Venita Fabbro	Ford Fiesta R2
	Open 2WD	Sarah Brennan	Toyota Levin
	Historics	Andrew Bullman	Ford Escort RS1800
2014	Overall	Phillip Deakin	Ford Fiesta R2
	FIA 2WD	Phillip Deakin	Ford Fiesta R2
	Open 2WD	Sarah Brennan	Toyota Levin
	Historics	Dave Neil	Mazda RX-7
2015	Overall	Donna Elder	Ford Fiesta R2
	FIA 2WD	Donna Elder	Ford Fiesta R2
	Open 2WD	Not Awarded
	Historics	Dave Neil	Mazda RX-7
2016	Overall	Bruce McKenzie	Honda Civic
	FIA 2WD	Lisa Hudson	Ford Fiesta R2
	Open 2WD	Bruce McKenzie	Honda Civic
	Historics	Dave Neil	Mazda RX-7
2017	Overall	Amy Hudson	Ford Fiesta ST
	FIA 2WD	Amy Hudson	Ford Fiesta ST
	Open 2WD	Tanya Gwynne	Ford Escort
	Historics	Blair Reid	Ford Escort
2018	Overall	Amy Hudson	Ford Fiesta ST
	FIA 2WD	Amy Hudson	Ford Fiesta ST
	Open 2WD	Dave Neil	Mazda RX-8
	Historics	Samantha Gray	Ford Escort
2019	Overall	Dave Neil	Mazda RX-8
	FIA 2WD	Glenn Goldring	Ford Fiesta R2
	Open 2WD	Dave Neil	Mazda RX-8
	Historics	Sarah Brennan	Ford Escort
2020	No 2020 Championship
2021	Overall	Amy Hudson	Ford Fiesta ST
	FIA 2WD	Amy Hudson	Ford Fiesta ST
	Open 2WD	Samantha Gray	BMW 318ti
	Historics	Zoe Jones	Ford Escort

NZ Rally Challenge Series (4WD)[]

Drivers[]

Year	Overall		4WD		2WD		Classic 4WD
	Driver	Vehicle	Driver	Vehicle	Driver	Vehicle	Driver	Vehicle
2013	Graham Featherstone	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7	Graham Featherstone	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7	David Ralph	Toyota Starlet
2014	Darren Galbraith	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6		[[]]		[[]]
2015		[[]]		[[]]		[[]]
2016		[[]]		[[]]		[[]]
2017		[[]]		[[]]		[[]]
2018		[[]]		[[]]		[[]]		[[]]
2019	Matt Adams	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9		[[]]		[[]]		[[]]
No Championship
2021		[[]]		[[]]		[[]]		[[]]

Co-Drivers[]

Year	Driver	Vehicle

Junior[]

Drivers[]

Year	Driver	Vehicle

Co-Drivers[]

Year	Driver	Vehicle

Manufacturers[]

Year	Manufacturer
1994	Subaru
1995	Mitsubishi
1996	Subaru
1997	Mitsubishi
1998	Mitsubishi
1999	Mitsubishi
2000	Mitsubishi
2001	Mitsubishi
2002	Mitsubishi
2003	Mitsubishi
2004	Mitsubishi
2005	Subaru
2006	Subaru
2007	Subaru
2008	Mitsubishi
2009	Subaru
2010	Mitsubishi
2011	Subaru
2012	Subaru
2013	Not Contested
2014	Subaru
2015	Subaru
2016	Mitsubishi
2017	Subaru
2018	Hyundai
2019	Subaru
2020	No Championship
2021	Hyundai

Rookie[]

Drivers[]

Year	Driver	Vehicle

Co-Drivers[]

Year	Driver	Vehicle

Teams Cup[]

Year	Team	Driver / Co-Driver	Vehicle
2013	Andrew Simms Mitsubishi	Chris West Chris Cobham	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
		Josh Marston Rocky Hudson	Ford Fiesta R2
		Jeff Judd Malcolm Read	Ford Escort RS1800
2014	Team Mason	Richard Mason Sara Mason	Subaru Impreza WRX STI
		Marcus van Klink Dave Neil	Mazda RX-7
		Brent Taylor Chris Ramsay	Toyota 86
2015 - 2016	Non Contested
2017		Matt Summerfield Nicole Summerfield	Subaru Impreza WRX STI
		Darren Galbraith Rocky Hudson	Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII
		Jack Williamson Brenda Williamson	Suzuki Swift
2018	Tortoise and the Hare	Jack Williamson Brenda Williamson	Subaru Impreza WRX STI R4
		Hayden Paddon John Kennard	Hyundai i20 AP4+
2019	Team LJ Hooker	Dylan Turner Malcolm Read	Audi S1 AP4+
		Dylan Thomson Amy Hudson	Subaru Impreza WRX STI
2020	No Championship
2021	Paddon Rallysport	Hayden Paddon John Kennard	Hyundai i20 AP4+
		Ari Pettigrew Samantha Gray	BMW 318ti

Multiple Winners[]

Drivers[]

Wins	Driver	Year
5		2005-06, 2011-12, 2014
	Hayden Paddon	2008-09, 2013, 2018, 2021
4		2000-03
3	Rod Millen	1975-77
		1982, 1984, 1987
		1986, 1989, 1992
	Joe McAndrew	1993-94, 1996
2		1980-81
		1985, 1988
		1995, 1997
		1998-99
		2015, 2019

Co-Drivers[]

Wins	Co-Driver	Year
6	Robert Haldane	1988-90, 1993-94, 1996
	Rob Ryan	1999-2003, 2007
4	John Kennard	2008-09, 2013, 2021
	Sara Mason	2006, 2011-12, 2014
3	Tony Rawstorn	2015, 2018-19
2	Garry Cowan	2004-05
	Leo Bult	1995, 1997

References[]

External links[]

• Series Official Web Site