As measures to control COVID-19 continue globally, rally competitors and gaming aficionados are able to indulge with the Online Rally Indonesia version being run this weekend 6-7 June 2020.
 
The third of five toward a virtual 2020 title; the Digital APRC has reignited past memories of gallant competition spanning the Asia-Pacific continent for up-coming competitors.
 
Indonesia deepens the diversity of conditions competitors of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship face and the itinerary set for this weekend’s virtual version will shadow the 2019 event.
 
While the originally scheduled running for the actual event is on the calendar for 25-26 July the online version will again test gamers and drivers at a new level....more...

Rally New Zealand organisers today confirmed that the 2020 FIA World Rally Championship event in and around Auckland in September has been cancelled due to the ongoing challenges with the Covid-19 pandemic. 

With three months until the planned return of the WRC event, but with the New Zealand borders remaining closed to international visitors for the foreseeable future, the organisers had reached their final deadline.

“It became clear that with our borders closed to international travel and the logistics required to host thousands of international visitors as part of the World Rally Championship, that the September 2020 date was not practical,” said Rally New Zealand 2020 CEO, Michael Goldstein....more...

The board of MotorSport New Zealand has provided an update regarding the proposed restructure of the organisation which was initiated on 8 May. 

Wayne Christie, elected President of MotorSport New Zealand Inc, says: “Following a carefully considered consultation process with staff, which included significant opportunity for staff input, the board of MotorSport New Zealand has today provided staff with a further proposed restructure document. We have invited staff to provide feedback on this revised restructure proposal.” 

The consultation period for MotorSport New Zealand staff to provide further feedback and consultation to the board is now extended to Tuesday, 26 May. Christie says the board expects to provide a final decision on the exact format of the restructuring to staff on Wednesday, 27 May. ...more...

The second of five virtual rally events for the 2020 Digital APRC heads to the northern hemisphere for the 23 – 24 May Online Rally Hokkaido.
 
Already a fiercely fought series, the level of competition on the DiRT Rally 2.0 platform is expected to increase, particularly from Japanese entrants.
Avid gamer and last year’s actual event winner Mike Young, driver of the Cusco prepared Toyota C-HR, says he’s finding the game a new challenge but does let slip one piece of advice:
 
“Hopefully my experience of the rally might help me as the DiRT Rally game is much harder than doing it in real life. It does tend to rain a lot in Hokkaido and even snow sometimes. In the game you must take the right tyres for the conditions - so I’ll be keeping an eye on the weather.&rdquo...more...

Well-known Kiwi race driver and engineer Angus Fogg has agreed to become a member of the Historic Advisory Commission of MotorSport New Zealand.
 
Fogg was invited to join the commission by the Board of MotorSport New Zealand, following the resignation of former Commission Chair Tony Roberts on 3 May. Since Roberts’ resignation, a second commission member, Dale Mathers, also resigned.
 
Wayne Christie, President of MotorSport New Zealand, expressed his appreciation of Fogg’s move into a sporting administration role.
 
“Angus Fogg is one of New Zealand’s most respected and well liked race drivers, as well as being an extremely accomplished engineer and constructor of quality race cars,” says Christie. “Angus has a wealth of knowledge of the historic and classic race categories. Alongside existing commission members Bruce Dyer and Barry Leitch, we believe we have an excellent advisory commission to help MotorSport New Zealand take these categories into the future."...more...

The highly anticipated New Zealand arrival of Subaru’s All-Wheel Drive e-Boxer Hybrids in Forester and XV variants is only a matter of weeks away, bringing even greater customer choice to the Kiwi adventure brand’s SUV range.

Subaru’s 16 Authorised Subaru Centres nationwide will have demonstrator vehicles available to test drive from June 1st, enabling customers to experience for themselves that the e-Boxer Hybrids have the same DNA as all the NZ-new Subarus launched before them - with no compromise in their performance or their capability.

Subaru of New Zealand’s Managing Director, Wallis Dumper does caution interested parties that only a limited number of the All-Wheel Drive e-Boxer Hybrids will be available in 2020....more...