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NZRC season finale on Saturday 31 October, based in Whakatāne: around 160km of gravel and forestry stages, ceremonial start on The Strand on Friday evening, service park in Kawerau. Also NIRS Round 5.
Battery Town Rally Bay of Plenty closes out the 2026 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship (Round 6), and doubles as Round 5 of the North Island Rally Series, the North Island H6 Challenge and the Suzuki Swift Challenge. For the first time in many years the event is based in Whakatāne, with the start and finish there, a ceremonial start on The Strand on Friday evening, and a service park in Kawerau.
Nine special stages cover around 160km of competitive gravel, with a bit of forestry in the mix, between Whakatāne, Kawerau and the Western Bay of Plenty, with three services in Kawerau. The Power Stage is SS8 Manawahe (24.74km), with SS9 Stanley 2 as the backup if SS8 is interrupted.
Jack Hawkeswood goes in as the 2026 Driver's Champion, with the Toyota Manufacturers' Championship still to be decided.
Friday 30 October: recce from 7:00am; Rally Show 4:00–6:00pm and ceremonial start 5:30pm on The Strand, Whakatāne (the council is closing The Strand between Commerce Street and George Street, 3–7pm both days).
Saturday 31 October: first car out 6:30am; finish ceremony around 6:15pm on The Strand; results around 7:00pm.
The Friday ceremonial start, Rally Show and Saturday finish on The Strand are the easy way to see the cars. Stage spectator points are published in the Supplementary Regulations Part 2. Check the organiser's website before heading out, and follow all closed-road spectator rules. Live results at chrissport.nz.
Organised by MotorSport Bay of Plenty / Rally Bay of Plenty Inc. www.rallybop.org.nz · info@rallybop.org.nz · 021 644 177.
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