26 February 2014
VINZ back International Rally of Whangarei
Backing the 12-13 April opening round of the 2014 FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC), the International Rally of
Whangarei will be New Zealand’s premier vehicle safety testing operation VINZ.
With a 20 year history of operation VINZ inspects, tests, and certifies new and used vehicles to ensure they comply with
New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) regulations – the same regulations that apply to each and every car competing in the
event.
As the only FIA international category rally event held in New Zealand for 2014 it brings a number of offshore cars that
all need to be Warrant of Fitness (WOF) compliant before they can compete.
The weekend competition covers 595km, including 14 special stages in both the Far North and Whangarei regions – using
roads revered for their flowing nature and cambered style.
Teams travel to and from each of the closed sections of road needing to abide by the same road rules and regulations as
any other road user.
“We’re thrilled to have VINZ extend their support to the backing of this international event, which will further their
profile as an automotive business with a sporting synergy,” says Laurie Brenssell, chairman of the VINZ International
Rally of Whangarei organising committee.
VINZ, with their distinctive yellow and red colour scheme, also back three-time rally winner Hayden Paddon and the New
Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC), which provide much of the event’s competing field.
Additionally; the 2014 VINZ International Rally of Whangarei will include round one of the 2014 New Zealand domestic Top
Half Rally Series – in a subsidiary field that will follow after the internationally eligible cars.
Starting and finishing from Whangarei, a new feature for 2014 will be the Saturday night Hella Pohe Island Super Special
Stage being held at the William Fraser Memorial Park.
Activity starts on the Friday afternoon with a rally show and ceremonial start (early evening) at the Cameron Street
Mall in the centre of Whangarei. The following morning competitors head north of Whangarei to a loop of all new stages.
A return to Whangarei at midday to the events central service park at the Quayside Town Basin provides great access for
the public to view the cars and crews up close.
The afternoon’s competition includes a repeat of two of the morning stages followed by another new test at Tapui that
uses 20km’s of winding gravel road. The teams then return to Whangarei for service before two runs at the night time
spectator special stage.
An early start from Whangarei on Sunday 13 April will see teams head to classic rally stages including Brooks which
finishes at the famous jump over the railway bridge, a photographer and spectators favourite.
A mid-morning service back at the Quayside Town Basin Service Park in Whangarei, followed by a repeat run of the morning
three stages completes the 241 kilometres of competitive distance of the event.
The victory celebrations and podium presentation will take place from 3:00 pm at the marina’s edge of the Quayside Town
basin area, to complete the eighth annual running of the International Rally of Whangarei.
Full event details can be found on the website www.rallywhangarei.co.nz or follow the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/pages/International-Rally-of-Whangarei/182079691824879?ref=stream
About VINZ:
VINZ was originally established as a co-operative in the early 1990's by a large group of New Zealand motor industry
people. It is now a privately owned company.
Its purpose was initially to provide services to the mushrooming used vehicle import industry, motor dealerships and
their customers and provide competition in the market.
As an NZTA appointed Transport Service Delivery Agent for over 20 years, VINZ service has expanded with changing
legislative and operational requirements.
They established a nationwide agent network - with major partnerships in main centres - to handle inspection of large
bulk shipments of vehicles. This structure minimised the need for capital investment by VINZ and enabled the faster
processing of vehicles from the arrival ports to the motor vehicle dealers' sales yards.
VINZ do Warrant of Fitness (WOF) and Certificate of Fitness testing (COF for commercial vehicles), vehicle appraisals
and inspections, exhaust emission testing, driver and vehicle licensing, and road user charge collection.
ENDS