Rising Kiwi rally star Zeal Jones is aiming to showcase his skills in what could be a careerdefining few days in harsh winter conditions in Europe. The final shoot-out in the 2024 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC Challenge Program gets underway today in Finland and the prize will be a seat as a Generation 4 driver with the reigning World Rally Team Champions.

Zeal has fought his way through two rounds of competition in Japan to make the final stages and his skills in and out of the rally car are going to be assessed by a world class team that will include four-time WRC runner-up Mikko Hirvonen, former WRC co-driver Jouni Ampuja and former WRC driver Juho Hannien as well as a significant number of the TOYOTA GAZOO World Rally Team.

He has left no stone unturned in his final preparation since securing a spot in the final shootout just a few weeks ago.

“My preparation has been very thorough,” he said. “I have tried dialling some research-based training into my program from potential scenarios we may be put into.

“General fitness and aerobic activity have still been at the forefront of my training with a mix of simulator sessions. However, I have also incorporated mental skills training to ensure I have the right mindset to attack this challenge and go over prepared as an all-around driver.

“Training with limited information ensures we go over fresh, and they test our natural ability as much as possible.

“In Finland, we know we will be tested physically, mentally and while driving on the ice and snow across a six day program, evaluating our pros and cons to determine the final driver to be selected to be part of the TGR WRC Challenge Program Generation 4.

“Winter conditions are a completely new experience for me. However, with my preparation, I have reached out to several experienced people in this field to give me a heads up, so I will at least go into it feeling a little less like a rookie.”

The TGR WRC Challenge Program was established in 2015 ahead of Toyota’s return to the top level of the WRC to identify and nurture talented young Japanese rally drivers. Zeal’s mother is Japanese making him eligible to compete. He is the youngest driver ever to become the NZRC Rally Challenge Champion, and is the 2024 New Zealand Rally Junior Champion.

The goal for the selected drivers is comprehensive growth as an athlete and the ultimate target is for them to become a professional rally driver and gain success in the World Rally Championship.

Takamoto Katsuta joined the program as part of the very first selection in 2015. From minimal rally experience, he went on to achieve his first WRC podium in 2021 at the Safari Rally Kenya. Having scored further podiums on rallies from Japan to Finland, Taka is now part of Toyota’s main TGR-WRT line-up. So far he has achieved five podiums in his WRC career.

Defending champions James Ford and his co driver Neil Shanks held on to win the 2024 Silver Fern Rally, making it back to back wins.  Their winning margin after 7 days, and almost 1000 kilometers of special stages was 4 minutes 21 seconds.

Robbie and Amy Stokes finished in second place, 4 minutes 11 seconds ahead of Robert Gough and Jeremy Rogers in third. The top three positions were held by Ford Escorts.

James on his win: “It’s been a long week, we’ve had a few incidents but apart from that we’ve managed it. We have managed an engine problem since day 2. The last stage was very rough and a bit of a baptism of fire for the last stage of the rally. “We did the same stage 2 years ago in the other direction so we knew what it was like. We had a big lead so went pretty steady”.

The 2WD Challenge was won by Chris Ramsay and Amy Hudson in Ramsay's self-built Toyota Corolla. Behind them by 9 minutes 33 seconds were Dave Strong and Rob Scott in Dave's one-off V6 Honda Jazz RS. Richard Galley and Claire Buccini in the BMW E30 just held onto third place another 5 minutes 42 seconds back.

Ben Huband and Corinne Cutler 9Subaru Magnum H6) won the 4WD class from Tom Milliken and Chris Cunningham, having had a mostly trouble free rally.

The Porsche and the Lancia Stratos were repaired overnight after their heavy crashes on the penultimate day south of Dunedin. It was all hands on deck to repair the cars for the final day.

Tuthill Porsche Team Manager: "The first job was to assess it and see what needed pulling out, then make it straight. Because it caught fire we had to redo the wiring loom too.  Luckly we had the car back (at Service) by mid-day so worked until about 10pm”.

The final day had the longest stage of the entire rally at a staggering 54 kilometres. This was one of three stages which took the survivors through some of the most picturesque landscape in the country. Following these three stages and after lunchtime service the cars toured to Wanaka for the Ceremonial Finish at Paddons Paddock.

Of the 53 7-Day entries, 26 completed all 47 stages. James Ford showed his consistency winning 23 in the Historic section with Marcus van Klink - the only other leader for 5 stages - next on 8, while Dave Strong won 24 to Rambo's 21 in the Challenge.

Deane Buist (Ford Escort) has come out on top winning the overall 2024 Mainland Rally Championship (MRC) title after the completion of the final two rounds over the weekend. 

Having won the (Mainland Series) Rally of North Canterbury on Saturday, Buist finished runner up to Marcus van Klink (Mazda RX7 Group B) in the Westland Rally on Sunday. 

Second overall was Robbie Stokes (Ford Escort) with van Klink third followed by James Worker (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) and Dylan Thomson (Ford Fiesta).

Stokes led the series heading into the weekend, 17-points ahead of Buist but a sixth and fourth placed him just four-points behind at the end.

Stokes was the top MRC car in the opening two events, Rally Otago (April) and the South Canterbury Rally (May) while van Klink came home first in Rally Canterbury (June).  It was Mark McMillan (Subaru WRX) who took maximum points at the Wyndham Rally (August). 

Meanwhile Buist continued to gather points finishing strongly with a win and a second place in the last two rounds.  For overall results, it is the best five of the six round series.

The battle for seven different MRC Class titles were also decided with the best four results of the six rounds.

Mike Matheson (Toyota Vitz) won Class A (0-1300cc) from Pat Norris (Toyota Yaris) and Josh Silcock (Toyota Starlet). Matheson’s co-driver Gordon Legge was top co-driver in the class.

Jack Stokes (Ford Fiesta R2) edged out Harri Silcock (Toyota Starlet) in Class B (1301-1600cc) by just 12 points with Sarah Faulkner the top co-driver in class.

Deane Buist and Marcus van Klink were tied first in Class C (1601cc and over) with Buist given first due to his competing in five rounds versus van Klink’s four.  Klinky's navigator Toby Marsh was the top co-driver in class as well as winning the overall Co-Drivers Championship Trophy.

While he may have missed the first three rounds, James Worker picked up enough points in Class D (4WD) to win the title from Caleb MacDonald with Gemma Thomas top co-driver in class.

Shane McKenzie (Mitsubishi Galant) was first home in the North Canterbury Rally, in Class E (Pre 2000 4WD), giving him enough points to claim the title ahead Nigel Ede (Subaru Legacy RS).   Mark Grimmer picked up the co-drivers’ award in class.

A dnf for Ally Mackay (Ford Escort Mk1) in the penultimate round on Saturday gave Stephen Gill (Ford Escort Mk2) the advantage in Class F (Classic 2WD), sealing the title after the Westland Rally with his co-driver Grant Molloy taking top spot as well.

Amy Keighley (Subaru) and Tom Milliken (Subaru) continued their battle in Class H6 with Keighley first home in both rounds and taking the title.  Milliken’s co-driver, Chris Cunningham, picked up the Class co-driver award.

The 2024 Mainland Rally Championship has the support of RDL Performance, Brita Safety Ltd, Palmside NZ Ltd, Christchurch Building and Decorating Ltd, Thomson Rust and Repair Services Ltd, Rally Drive NZ.  

Seven-time New Zealand Rally Championship winner Hayden Paddon has stormed to a dominant win in the International Rally of Whangarei for a staggering 9th time in his career.

Paddon, in his Hyundai i20N Rally2, beat Ben Hunt (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo) by four minutes and 42 seconds to take out the winner-takes-all FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship for the second time in his career.

He won every stage of the event to underline his dominance.

It wasn’t all bad news for Hunt however, his second place enough to secure a third New Zealand national championship after Paddon missed the opening round at Otago.

Dylan Thomson finished a brilliant third in the older generation Subaru Impreza after holding off a charging Emma Gilmour (Citroen C3 Rally2) on Sunday.

Gilmour followed Paddon and Hunt home in the Asia Pacific Championship.

Bryn Jones put his best ever drive together to secure a comfortable victory in the 2WD class in his Ford Fiesta Rally4, while father Anthony Jones won the Historic class.

Ben Hunt claimed a third Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship crown after finishing second at the International Rally of Whangarei on Sunday.

Hunt, in his Skoda New Zealand Fabia Rally2 evo, took a comfortable second place to secure his third career title and first since 2019.

WRC rally winner Hayden Paddon, in the Hyundai New Zealand i20N Rally2, was the class of the field once again, powering to a dominant rally win but just missed out to Hunt in the season’s standings having missed the opening round at Otago due to a clash with his European Rally Championship. Paddon led home Hunt by four minutes and 42 seconds.

Dylan Thomson claimed third place in the Kiwi Carpet Cleaners Subaru Impreza in a stunning drive – his best ever overall finish.

He edged Emma Gilmour (Vantage New Zealand Citroen C3 Rally2) by just 12.2 seconds with Stewart Reid fifth in the SR Automotive Mitsubishi Mirage AP4.

Bryn Jones took an impressive win in the NZRC 2WD class in his Ford Fiesta Rally4– beating Jack Stokes (Ford Fiesta R2) by two minutes and 42 seconds.

Thomson had already wrapped up the championship at the previous round before swapping classes for Whangarei.

Willy Hawes finished second in class in his Toyota 86 to take out the Open 2WD championship despite title rival Dave Strong’s (Honda Jazz RS) win at Whangarei.

Paul Fraser (Ford Escort RS1800) won the Historic 2WD title after finishing runner-up to Anthony Jones (Ford Escort Mk2) over the weekend.

Mike Cameron was third in the Mitsubishi Lancer.

WRC rally winner Hayden Paddon leads the International Rally of Whangarei by two minutes and 38 seconds over two-time New Zealand rally champion Ben Hunt.

Paddon won all of the day’s 10 stages to take a commanding lead and have control of the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship winner-takes-all finale in the process.

Hunt is on track to win a third national title if he can maintain second place throughout Sunday’s seven stages. Emma Gilmour (Citroen C3 Rally2) pipped Dylan Thomson for third place – Thomson running an older generation Subaru Impreza.

A number of leading contenders ran into trouble in a drama-filled day.

Talented teenager Zeal Jones slid off the road in the second stage of the day in his Skoda Fabia R5, while Robbie Stokes crashed his Ford Fiesta AP4 on stage three.

Jack Hawkeswood (Toyota GR Yaris AP4) had to replace an axle and was a temporary withdrawal, while Mike Young (Toyota Yaris AP4) suffered electrical failure late in the day while running third.

All three re-joined for the two passes through Pohe Island Super Special late in the day.

Bryn Jones (Ford Fiesta Rally4) is the leading 2WD competitor, in front of father Anthony Jones (Ford Escort Mk2), who is the first of the Historic entrants.

The rally continues on Sunday with seven more stages south of Whangarei.

Ben Hunt has got one hand on the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship after the opening day of the International Rally of Whangarei.

Hunt sits second to rally leader and fellow title contender Hayden Paddon after a dramatic opening day, in which the leading drivers that could threaten Hunt’s chances of the second-place finish that would secure him a third national title, fell by the wayside.

Paddon (Hyundai New Zealand i20N Rally2) leads the rally by two minutes and 38 seconds from Hunt (Skoda New Zealand Fabia Rally2 evo). Emma Gilmour (Vantage NZ Citroen C3 Rally2) edged Dylan Thomson, in an older model Subaru Impreza for third place ahead Haydn Mackenzie (Albany Toyota Yaris AP4).

Earlier, talented youngster Zeal Jones (Smith & Sons Skoda Fabia R5) slid off the road on the second stage after posting the second fastest time on SS1 while Robbie Stokes (Stokes Motorsport Ford Fiesta AP4) crashed on the third stage.

Andrew Graves was crowned champion in the Rally Challenge 4WD class and the Group A Challenge after another superb drive in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3.

Graves came home in front of Jay Pittams (Subaru Impreza) and Carter Strang (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 10) to claim the title in emphatic fashion.

Graves led home Pittams and James Macdonald (Subaru Impreza H6) in the Group A Challenge, meaning the Gore driver will do the title double.

Jared Parker successfully defended his Rally Challenge 2WD crown after winning the class on his first ever visit to Whangarei.

Parker (Toyota FX Corolla) beat Kyle Percival (Ford Escort Mk2) by over three minutes with Pat Norris (Toyota Yaris) finishing third and securing runner-up in the title battle.

Bryn Jones holds the lead in the NZRC 2WD class after very strong drive in his Ford Fiesta Rally4. He holds a lead of more than two minutes over Jack Stokes (Ford Fiesta R2) and Tim Mackersy (Ford Fiesta Rally4).

Willy Hawes (Toyota 86) trails Dave Strong (Honda Jazz RS) in the Open 2WD battle. Hawes just needs to finish the event to collect enough points to secure the 2024 title, however.

Anthony Jones holds a dominant lead in the Historic 2WD class in his Ford Escort Mk2. He leads champion-in-waiting Paul Fraser (Ford Escort RS1800) while Mike Cameron will rejoin after electrical trouble in his Mitsubishi Lancer on Saturday afternoon.

The action continues on Sunday with a further seven special stages.

Two-time national champion Ben Hunt will look to hold off WRC rally winner and seven-time national champ Hayden Paddon in a head-to-head battle at the final round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship in Whangarei this week.

Hunt (Skoda New Zealand Fabia Rally2 evo) holds a 12-point buffer over a charging Paddon (Hyundai New Zealand i20 Rally2) heading into the final round but knows a second-place finish on both legs and the power stage will be enough to be crowned champion.

Paddon missed the season-opening round in Otago and has been trying to make up the deficit ever since – winning every round he has contested.

Hunt will be more mindful of the chasing pack than Paddon – with the likes of Robbie Stokes (Stokes Motorsport Ford Fiesta AP4), Emma Gilmour (Vantage NZ Citroen C3 Rally2) and Zeal Jones (Smith & Sons Skoda Fabia R5) more than capable of spoiling his party.

Recently crowned NZRC 2WD and overall 2WD champion for 2024 Dylan Thomson is stepping up to NZRC 4WD in a Subaru Impreza and could be a wildcard while the likes of Haydn Mackenzie (Albany Toyota Yaris AP4), Stewart Reid (SR Automotive Mitsubishi Mirage AP4), Eugene Creugnet (Mitsubishi Mirage AP4) and Pierre-Henri Brunet (Ford Fiesta Proto) will also contest the category.

Without Thomson a three-way battle between Jack Stokes, Bryn Jones and Tim Mackersy – all Ford Fiestas – looms in the NZRC 2WD class, while Indian Naveen Puligilla will be one to watch in his Proton Satria, joining the class for this round.

Willy Hawes will be looking for a finish in his Toyota 86 as he aims to win the Open 2WD championship from the charging Dave Strong (Honda Jazz).

Anthony Jones (Ford Escort Mk2) starts as the round favourite in the Historic 2WD class but Paul Fraser (Ford Escort Mk2) will be thinking about a finish to win the championship ahead of contender Mike Cameron (Mitsubishi Lancer).

The Rally Challenge 4WD battle is set for an epic finale – Southlander Andrew Graves (Mitsubishi EVO 3) takes a 11-point buffer to Whangarei but will have Caleb Macdonald (Mitsubishi EVO6), Carter Strang (Mitsubishi EVO 10) and James Macdonald (Subaru Impreza) all within touching distance of the title.

The likes of Jay Pittams (Subaru Impreza), Gavin Feast (Subaru WRX), Julian Lenglet (Subaru Impreza) and Brian Green (Mitsubishi EVO 9) have demonstrated enough speed to impact the title contenders.

Jared Parker (Toyota FX Corolla) will look to defend his Rally Challenge 2WD crown by holding off Pat Norris (Toyota Yaris) in what has been an entertaining season-long battle. Kyle Percival will enter the mix for the final round in a Ford Escort.

The rally gets underway on Saturday with stages north of Whangarei before stages south and west of the city on Sunday.

A world class performance by rising Kiwi rally star Zeal Jones has seen him secure a place in the final for the Toyota World Rally Team’s “WRC Challenge Program”.

Jones secured a top spot after an exhausting series of assessments by rally icons Mikko Hirvonen and Jouni Ampuja. Six made it through the semi-finals held in Japan and a seventh driver – who qualified by winning the Morizo Challenge Cup – will now prepare for the final shoot-out in Finland in December.

All will be tested physically and have their skills on ice and snow evaluated before one is signed up for the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing WRC Challenge Program as a Generation 4 driver.

“It was genuine relief when I found out I had secured a spot,” explained the impressive youngster. “I wasn’t overly pleased with my runs, so I wasn’t sure at all until they announced the result an hour after we finished, especially as the gymkhana-style evaluation was a familiar format to the other drivers.

“However, after making the semi-finals, we were told the results wouldn’t just be based on times like the quarter-finals so I left it all out there and just tried my best to demonstrate to the judges that I can be an all-round driver capable of more than this style of racing, which the instructors acknowledged.

“ The gymkhana-style course was challenging for me as I’ve never done that style of racing. Being in New Zealand, we are blessed with the best roads in the world, even the instructors told me that.”

“With the incredible opportunities I’ve had so far in my career, I’ve been able to advance quickly through the New Zealand rallying ranks, kind of skipping the entry-level learning, which is autocross and gymkhanas. In Japan, this style of racing is more prevalent, especially on the tarmac, so some of the boys had done the same track but in a different configuration in previous trials when TOYOTA GAZOO Racing were on their search for Generation 3 drivers last year.”

Before heading to Japan, Zeal had undergone an intensive day of preparation behind the wheel of Toyota’s GR models under the expert tuition of Kaleb Ngatoa, and he was in no doubt about the value.

“That preparation with TGRNZ proved vital and probably pivotal for me as without the training on track in the GR range with Kaleb, I wouldn’t have been able to apply my skills nearly as well,” he added.

“We were in the GR Yaris, which was as expected. However, they trialled us in an automatic and no use of paddle shift.

This made the circumstances different to what I tested in New Zealand with the manual car.

“It made it difficult to use the power so I had to adapt. It’s now eyes forward to the final and I have to thank all of the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing NZ team for their support. When it comes to supporting young drivers like myself wanting to succeed, they go the extra mile.”

Only open to Japanese drivers, Zeal’s mother is Japanese making him eligible to compete. He is the youngest driver ever to become the NZRC Rally Challenge Champion, and is the 2024 New Zealand Rally Junior Champion.

TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand Motorsport Manager Nicolas Caillol was delighted with Zeal’s progress on the world stage, commenting: “We are very proud of his achievement in making up to the final trip to Finland. “We had a hunch he might be pretty good but he is already exceeding everyone’s expectations. He fits perfectly with our philosophy of Finding New Zealand’s Next World Champion and we’re eager to develop and nurture talent like his to provide TOYOTA GAZOO Racing New Zealand globally the best talent from New Zealand.”

The world’s greatest ever rally driver, Frenchman Sébastien Loeb, and New Zealand’s most successful rally driver Hayden Paddon are the latest stars confirmed for next year’s Race Of Champions (ROC) event in the Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park from March 7-8.

Loeb won no less than nine consecutive World Rally Championships and will be chasing his fifth Champion of Champions ROC title at Accor Stadium in Sydney. Not only did Loeb win nine WRC crowns, he also holds the record for the most WRC event wins (80), most podium finishes (120) and stage victories (939).

Last year, Hayden Paddon became the first non-European to be crowned European Rally Champion and he backed up that effort when he recently clinched back-to-back titles for Hyundai securing the 2024 ERC Title in the final event in Poland.

“To be part of the Race Of Champions and especially represent the first Team NZ in ROC is a dream come true for me,” said Paddon.

“I’ve been watching the Race Of Champions every year since my hero Colin McRae won ROC in Gran Canaria, always hoping that one day I would be invited to compete.

“It’s a true honour to be able to represent New Zealand and compete against some of the best of the best. New Zealand has always proudly punched above its weight in world motorsport and this will be a chance for myself and my teammate, whoever that ends up being, to really fly the Kiwi flag on the world stage.

“I hope many New Zealand fans will join me in Sydney now that this unique event is coming to this part of the world for the first time. March cannot come soon enough.”

Paddon is regarded as one of the most proactive and fan-friendly competitors in local and world rallying and will be chasing his eighth national title in the International Rally of Whangarei from November 8-10.

ROC Sydney will be the first time that New Zealand has a team competing in the ROC Nations Cup and Paddon’s teammate will be announced in the lead up to the event.

The announcement of Loeb and Paddon comes after the recent confirmation of a German “super team” of Sebastian Vettel and Mick Schumacher for next year’s showcase Sydney event, which will also include seven-time Australian Supercars champion Jamie Whincup and many other superstars from around the world.

The Race Of Champions will run over two nights with a purpose built 1 kilometer tarmac track taking centre stage at Accor Stadium, Sydney’s Olympic Stadium.

Loeb currently drives in the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) for Dacia, finishing second in the recent Rallye du Maroc in his first event for the team.

He has also been a regular starter in the grueling Dakar Rally since 2016 and finished second in the event in 2017, 2022 and 2023 before finishing third this year.

Further proving his versatility, Loeb joined the World Touring Car Championship with Citroen Total in 2014 and during two seasons finished with six wins and 20 podiums, finishing third in the title chase both years.

Loeb’s impressive record at the Race Of Champions includes being crowned the individual Champion of Champions no less than four times. His first triumph came at Gran Canaria in 2003, defeating Marcus Grönholm in the Grand Final. He repeated the feat in Paris at the expense of Tom Kristensen (2005) and at London’s Wembley Stadium in 2008 against David Coulthard. Then he pulled off another overall victory in 2022 at ROC Sweden after beating Sebastian Vettel in the final.