It’s NZ Silver Fern Rally time again with a field of some of NZs best classic gravel marathon specialists now gathered in Christchurch patiently awaiting the Sunday morning start of an event first due to run two full years.
“Correct,” said Martin last night. “We ran our first ‘Silver Fern’ down here (in the South Island) in 2016 then our second in the North Island in 2018. Then COVID-19 hit us in 2019 and we’ve pretty much been in a holding pattern ever since.”
The first of the new-generation Silver Fern Rally events was organised to celebrate New Zealand’s original Silver Fern Rally held in 1969. Since 2006 a week-long, historic-focused, revival event has been held every two years, with the event acquired by the Auckland-based Ultimate Rally Group, which also runs the annual Targa New Zealand tarmac events, in 2015.
Like the 2016 event, this year’s Silver Fern Rally starts and finishes in Christchurch with overnight stops in Oamaru, Dunedin, Invercargill, and Timaru.
The Ford Escort is by far the most popular single model with 14 entered.
In that number are several top-rated local combinations, including NZ rally event veteran Brian Green and co-driver Fleur Pedersen from Palmerston North, Jeff Judd and co-driver Stephane Prevot from Christchurch, and Shane Murland and co-driver Kane Seymour from Wellington.
All-up this year’s NZ Silver Fern Rally has attracted 24 entries, 17 in the Historic Trophy section and seven in the Rally Challenge one for newer vehicles
A single-day Christchurch One-Day Rally has also been added to the event itinerary on Sunday as well. It has also attracted a dedicated entry of 24 cars.
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