Rally NZ: Carter And Ulmer Go Head To Head

Carter And Ulmer Go Head To Head – All For A Good Cause

Olympic gold medalists Hamish Carter and Sarah Ulmer will face off in a unique best of three match race over a 2.1km circuit this Saturday but neither will enjoy the comfort of a bike or their normal surroundings.

Both Athens champions will this time be behind the wheel in the TSB Bank sponsored celebrity challenge at the Manukau Super Special Stage of Propecia Rally New Zealand.

Carter and Ulmer will race three times around the circuit on Saturday night, before the big guns of world rallying take to the course in special stages 15 and 16 of the World Rally Championship event and both are looking forward to their stints behind the wheel.

Rally Drive New Zealand instructor Dale Perry assisted in driver training.

“This was something totally foreign to both Hamish and Sarah but they showed a willingness to learn and listen. I guess this says something about their abilities as sportspeople of the highest order. The crowd will be in for a treat on Saturday night and should be prepared to be surprised at the skill on display from both novice drivers, albeit they should also be a little forgiving if they make the odd mistake or two!”

There is a serious side to the fun, with Ronald MacDonald House set to benefit from the efforts of the Olympians. Through the generous support of TSB Bank, a considerable donation will be made to the charity on behalf of the winner of the best of three race series.

Carter and Ulmer will have one final opportunity to familiarize themselves with the cars and the course when they undertake reconnaissance of the Manukau Super Special Stage on Tuesday (tomorrow) from 3pm to 4pm. Media are welcome to attend.

TSB BANK CELEBRITY CHALLENGE

Propecia Rally New Zealand

Manukau Super Special Stage

Reconnaissance

Tuesday 5th April from 3pm

TSB Bank Celebrity Challenge

Saturday 9th April

Race 1 6:20pm

Race 2 6:30pm

Race 3 6:40pm

Propecia Rally NZ first car 7:30pm

Other pre event entertainment at the Manukau Super Special Stage will include the supremely quick and entertaining quad bikes, featuring Ian Fitch, five times winner of the Race to the Sky Super Quad category. Chasing Fitch hard will be the other 2005 top five finishers in the same category in the Race to the Sky, Graeme Giles, Darcy Prendergast, Tim George and Tony Etheridge.

To emphasise the speed of the Super Quads, Ian Fitch was fastest overall in the 2003 Ashley Forest Rally Sprint and won the inaugural Possum Bourne Memorial Trophy at Queenstown this year.

The Propecia-sponsored event begins with a ceremonial start at Waitemata Plaza on the Viaduct on Thursday 7 April. Fans can enjoy a Motorsport Show, driver autograph signings and an official Maori challenge before cars cross the ramp from 7.30pm.

The first full days on Friday and Saturday are in the Kaipara region before returning for two super special stages at Manukau City on Saturday evening, with the last day in the Waikato region near Raglan. The final stage will be the internationally acclaimed Whaanga Coast, with the ceremonial finish at Waitemata Plaza on the viaduct on Sunday afternoon.

Propecia Rally New Zealand Hair Raising Statistic #10

Number of different Tread Patterns allowed on tyres during Propecia Rally New Zealand: Two

Propecia Rally NZ, April 7-10.

For further details visit http://www.rallynz.org.nz

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