NZRC calendar for 2026 confirmed

The Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship will return to Southland and Hawke’s Bay in 2026 with confirmation of the 2026 calendar.

MotorSport New Zealand has signed off on a six-round championship that sees the three North Island rounds/three South Island rounds split remain next year.

The championship will begin with the 50th running of The Central Machine Hire Otago Rally on April 10-12.

Round two is Lone Star Rally Canterbury in association with Joe’s Garage on King’s Birthday Weekend (May 31), while the third round of the championship will see teams head back to Invercargill for the Barry Robinson Memorial Rally Southland on July 18.

The rally will be run by the Eastern Southland Car Club.

After a shorter mid-season break, the championship will head back to Hawke’s Bay on August 22 for the first time since 2022.

It will be an emotional return after the floods of early 2023 damaged so many roads in the region and forced the championship to have to go elsewhere in recent times.

Vertex Oil International Rally of Whangarei moves forward on the calendar next year with a September 25-27 date confirmed.

The championship will conclude at Battery Town Rally Bay of Plenty on October 31.

Championship co-ordinator Blair Bartels was relieved to finally get dates locked in.

“It is always a challenge balancing the needs of each event, with council requirements, championship needs and doing what’s best for the competitor,” Bartels said.

“I am delighted to have this calendar confirmed.

“We know it will be an exciting challenge for competitors, with the different nuances of each event providing a unique test.

“I’d like to officially welcome Southland and Hawke’s Bay and their organising teams and thank all of our existing events. By the same breath, I’d like to thank the South Canterbury Car Club, who have been great supporters of the championship since 2018.”