Following a successful return in 2022 after the world hiatus, the Silver Fern Rally New Zealand returns with its apt competitor description of ‘pure rally gold’ to run from 23-30th November 2024 over the remote, fast and flowing classic rally stages of the beautiful South Island, a global rallying paradise.
With snow-capped mountain backdrops and glaciers in the west, mountain passes in the south, some stretching to 70 kms, there will be rally action over seven days and 1042 competitive kilometres through what many have described as ‘rally paradise’ due to the magnificent fast rolling roads and scenery.
The Silver Fern Rally New Zealand will start in Christchurch and finish in the historic and picturesque Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu, a picture postcard summary of New Zealand’s glorious topography and heritage, the final terminus of an adventurous route of 3043 in total (including 1042 kms of special stages) close to Milford Sound. As ex-WRC Belgian co-driver Stéphane Prévot described the Silver Fern, “It is pure rally gold!”
There are three pinnacle historic special stage rallies around the world, the Classic Safari in Africa, the Roger Albert Clark Rally in the UK and the Silver Fern Rally New Zealand. Each are longer endurance-style historic special stage events which respects each other’s challenges and collaborates to avoid date clashes.
Competitors from around the world, the USA, Africa, Europe, Australia and beyond are drawn by the closed, smooth but fast gravel roads over dramatic but almost deserted territory.
Kenyan Frank Tundo, himself a veteran of 12 East African Safari rallies (two as team-mate to Possum Bourne in works Subarus) said “I have competed in the Silver Fern Rally twice before, on the North Island and South Island, but I just have to come back — this is the most amazing rally on earth. These roads are made for rallying, honestly they are incredible.”
Winning Scottish navigator Neil Shanks with James Ford in 2022 said, ”You have to do anything to make it over, sell what you need to, just get there to do it – it’s a must-do event!”
The Silver Fern Rally New Zealand is a sensational rally in every respect, superbly organised by the Ultimate Rally Group and Managing Director Peter Martin who explained how the fabulous rally roads acquired their reputation. “These roads are world-class. Many countries say they have the best roads but here in New Zealand we are lucky to have a colonial history with roads that were formed by horse and dray (flat carts), as the pioneers took their paths across the hills and mountains.
“Ultimately these paths have been turned into gravel roads. Few have been capped with tarmac, but a high proportion are still gravel that just follows the contours of the earth, they are just sensational for fast driving. We urge crews to get in touch and book a place via our website.”
Experienced Silver Fern Rally co-driver Welshman Alun Cook said of the seven-day event: “You get what you sign up for, effectively two seasons’ worth of typical UK rallying in one week. You wouldn’t get that anywhere else in the world.”
In addition to the world-class roads, a great New Zealand welcome is guaranteed, and the warmth of the people and the camaraderie of the rally have proved over again to be another factor which pulls crews back to compete in the Silver Fern Rally New Zealand. In short, it is an event they don’t want to miss.
Welsh star Meirion Evans, a previous winner, keeps coming back for more as does Englishman Phil Squires with Alun Cook. International Silver Fern Rally winners over the years include Andrew Cowan, Hannu Mikkola, Jimmy McRae, with Englishmen Matthew Robinson and James Ford as recent victors. There will of course be competitive entries from New Zealand and Australia, Kiwi Jeff Judd had WRC star co-driver Belgian Stéphane Prévot calling the notes in 2022, as Stéphane did so successfully with Bruno Thiry and François Duval in his world rally career. The duo was second.
The final comments come from Silver Fern rally fan Tony Jardine who competed for the first time in 2022, finishing 10th overall and winning the 1600 cc class. “I had the Silver Fern Rally on my bucket list for 10 years and finally I got to compete last year. It didn’t disappoint, in fact it was all I had hoped for and more – a truly amazing experience in every sense. I will definitely be back in 2024.“
To register your expression of interest and book a place, go to –
https://urg.co.nz/silver-fern-rally-expressions-of-interest/
Photography: Geoff Ridder and Clint Thambi at Mad Angles Photography
