The route for the Gold Rush Rally of The Coromandel has now been finalised.

The Rally takes place on Saturday 23 August, and is a new addition to the national rally calendar.

On Friday 22 August, cars and crews will be on display at a pre-event rally show in Blacksmith Lane, for everyone to get up close to the cars and stars.

On Saturday morning, rally teams will depart from the Mercury Bay Sports Park for nine special stages covering close to 140km of competitive distance.

The nine stages are:

1- From Ernslaw 1 (11.08km) just outside of Whitianga.

2- A tour down the coastline, through the 309 Road and a race against the clock for the first service of the day back at the Mercury Bay Sports Park.

3- 23kms of Tapu–Coroglen, starting at the Coroglen side.

4- Another coastline tour north to Castlerock for the next stage, starting on the forestry road back to join the 309 Road for the second half of the stage.

5-6 - Another service back at the Sports Park before a repeat of this 47 kilometre loop.

7 - A spectacular tarmac publicity stage beside Whitianga Waterways.

8 - A repeat of the 11.08km Ernslaw test.

9 - The final stage is a second pass of the Whitianga spectator stage, along a section of Joan Gaskill Drive, to thrill the crowds before the finish celebrations on the finish ramp just prior to 5pm conclude the event.

"We're really excited that an event of this calibre is being held in The Coromandel," says Thames-Coromandel Mayor Leach. "We're looking forward to hosting all the crews, as well as visitors and supporters who are coming here for the event. This is a fantastic opportunity for people to see why The Coromandel is such an amazing place to visit and an excellent opportunity for our businesses to benefit from the influx of people coming in during the winter months," says Mayor Leach.

Some of the stages will entail road closures during racing. Public meetings are now being arranged for anyone who may be affected. TCDC, Rally organisers and Destination Coromandel will also meet separately with any businesses that may be affected by any road closures.

The public meetings are planned for:

Monday 14th July - Mercury Bay Multi Sports Park. Time 7pm.
Tuesday 15th July - Tapu Hotel. Time 7pm
Wednesday 16th July - Coroglen Tavern. Time 7pm
For queries contact kirstin.richmond@tcdc.govt.nz

The roads in this area were last used in a national event during the 1979 Motogard Rally of New Zealand. The contrasts of The Coromandel ranges, rolling farmland and twisting coastline will provide a spectacular backdrop for National Rallying action.

Gold Rush Rally of Coromandel Clerk of Course Steve Foster says The Coromandel's roads will provide a fantastic location for competition. "Competitors will know they have been in a rally at the end of this event. There is everything from technical twisting sections in the hills, to fast flowing roads in the valleys," says Mr Foster.

"We have had fantastic support from the Thames-Coromandel District council in putting this event together. The combination of some great roads, the excellent Mercury Bay Sports Park facility as event base, and Whitianga as the host town are set to make the Gold Rush Rally a real highlight of this year's rally calendar," Mr Foster.

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