The four major rally drivers of the Counties region will go head-to-head in November’s City of Auckland Rally and Battle of Jacks Ridge.
Reigning national champion Ben Hunt (Glenbrook Beach), Kingsley Jones (Papakura), Dylan Turner (Pukekohe) and Jack Hawkeswood (Brookby) have all entered the one-day City of Auckland Rally that will see competitors use roads that had been included in Rally New Zealand’s World Rally Championship return in September, prior to COVID-19 forcing its cancellation.
“I’m not there to flap around – I am going to try my best,” Jones insisted.
“I think if I can make the top eight, I would be extremely happy. We are running it in full rally trim.
“If I can be in or around Ben [Hunt], Jack [Hawkeswood] and Dylan [Turner] I will be pretty happy.”
Turner in particular is someone Jones uses to measure himself against.
“Ben is more where I am trying to aim for. Dylan and Jack – I can play with them and be there or thereabouts.
“It is a jealousy thing maybe in that Dylan has a little bit more hair than me and uses a bit more hair product,” Jones laughed.
“It is good to have a battle out there but at the end of the day we are all good mates and we like winding each other up, which is what I enjoy the most – the people.”
Jones is delighted that these events have come about. Rallying in and around big cities is challenging simply due to the available roads but having events close to the population and close to where sponsors are based is massive for the sport.
“Being an Auckland rally, which are few and far between, it is good to get out and do something that is local,” he said. “The advantage is that you get to bring the family out and have the kids there.
“Traditionally Coromandel was the closest we came to Auckland, which wasn’t too bad for mates to shoot down but it is still an hour and a half’s drive and a night’s accommodation whereas being Auckland based makes it a lot more open for friends and family and sponsors and things like that.
“The South Island has a really strong rally community with events on their backdoor and so that really helps them out.
“I think the event is absolutely amazing – it is going to be good for spectators to watch and we will try and put on a show really.”
The City of Auckland Rally will run on Saturday November 14, using roads that had been set to feature in the WRC Rally New Zealand in September before COVID-19 struck.
The Battle of Jacks Ridge will take place on Sunday November 15 at the purpose-built stage in Whitford.
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