New Zealand entry list confirmed - 48 starters.
The organisers of the Propecia Rally New Zealand released the full entry list for their event this week, the penultimate round in the 2006 FIA World Rally Championship, which runs from November 17-19.
In total 48 crews will take in the event, with all the manufacturer 1 and manufacturer 2 squads set to have a presence, with the exception of Red Bull Skoda.
The organisers of the Propecia Rally New Zealand released the full entry list for their event this week, the penultimate round in the 2006 FIA World Rally Championship, which runs from November 17-19.
In total 48 crews will take in the event, with all the manufacturer 1 and manufacturer 2 squads set to have a presence, with the exception of Red Bull Skoda.
Sebastien Loeb is listed, despite his mountain bike accident last month and the Frenchman is hopeful he will be fit enough to compete: "I drive a very fast rally car and yet I get injured by falling off my bike. It is a bit crazy," said Loeb. "I would prefer to be fighting for the world title and I try to stay optimistic. It is too early to know about the injury. Australia is too early. I know that Marcus has an opportunity now. It's a big pressure on him though and I will do my best to come back to New Zealand to win the championship."
Kronos will again enter three-cars as has been the norm throughout virtually all this year, with the exception of Japan and Australia. Daniel Sordo is entered in the #2 Kronos-run Citroen Xsara WRC and as such he will be able to score manufacturers' points for the Belgian-based squad. Xavier Pons will run in the teams 'third car', the 2005-spec Xsara.
In total twelve WRC cars will be in action, with MotoGP ace, Valentino Rossi entered in a 2005-spec Subaru Impreza WRC - his second outing in the sport.
The Production Car WRC category has drawn all but one of the entire field for their decider where Nasser Al-Attiyah enjoys an eight point lead over Fumio Nutahara in a two-horse race where the current top five are all still in the title fight.
The local interest centres on defending PCWRC champion Toshi Arai, paired again with Kiwi Tony Sircombe, who will see the rally go close to his home town of Otorohanga in the Waikato. The other New Zealand interest is on current New Zealand Rally champion Richard Mason and 2004 champion Chris West, who will enjoy their status as FIA guest entrants in the PCWRC category in their Subarus. They will have the opportunity to test themselves against the best in the world in their class, and a chance to further their international rally aspirations.
There are 13 other New Zealand drivers in the rally including Northland schoolgirl Kirsty Nelson, who earned her start after winning a Propecia Rally NZ scholarship.
The full entry list is as follows:
1. Sebastien LoebKronos Citroen Xsara WRC 06 M1##
2. Daniel SordoKronos Citroen Xsara WRC 06 M1
3. Marcus GronholmBP Ford Focus RS WRC 06 M1
4. Mikko HirvonenBP Ford Focus RS WRC 06 M1
5. Petter SolbergSubaru WRT Impreza WRC 2006 M1
6. Chris AtkinsonSubaru WRT Impreza WRC 2006 M1
7. Manfred StohlOMV Peugeot Norway 307 WRC M2
8. Henning SolbergOMV Peugeot Norway 307 WRC M2
9. Matthew WilsonStobart VK Ford Focus WRC 05 M2
10. Luis Perez CompancStobart VK Ford Focus WRC 05 M2
15. Xavier Pons Kronos Citroen Xsara WRC
16. Valentino RossiValentino Rossi Subaru Impreza WRC 2005
31. Toshi Arai Subaru Impreza WRX P
32. Marcos LigatoMitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 P
33. Fumio NutaharaMitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 P
34. Sebastian BeltranMitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 P
35. Gabriel PozzoMitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 P
36. Mirco BaldacciMitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 P
37. Jari-Matti Latvala Subaru Impreza WRX P
38. Leszek KuzajSubaru Impreza WRX P
39. Nasser Al-AttiyahSubaru Impreza WRX P
41. Takuma KamadaSubaru Impreza WRX P
42. Sergey UspenskiySubaru Impreza WRX P
43. Natalie BarrattMitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 P
45. Aki TeiskonenSubaru Impreza WRX P
46. Nigel HeathSubaru Impreza WRX P
59. Richard MasonSubaru Impreza WRX P
60. Chris WestSubaru Impreza WRX P
61. Juho HanninenMitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
62. Andrew Hawkeswood Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 7
63. Emma GilmourSubaru Impreza WRX
64. Dean SummerMitsubishi Lancer Evo 8
65. Glenn InksterMitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5
66. Stewart TaylorMitsubishi Lancer Evo 9
67. Malcolm StewartMitsubishi Lancer Evo 6.5
68. David AylingSubaru Impreza WRX
69. Brent TaylorMitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
70. Loris BaldacciSubaru Impreza WRX
71. Patrick MalleyMitsubishi Lancer Evo 7
72. Michael KahlfussMitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
73. Kevin ShawMitsubishi Lancer Evo 7
74. Kirsty NelsonSubaru Impreza WRX
75. Matt ShinnorsMitsubishi Lancer Evo 6
76. Dermott MalleyMitsubishi Lancer Evo 8
77. Richard IveSubaru Impreza WRX
78. Akira BambaMitsubishi Lancer Evo 8
79. Greg StevensonMitsubishi Lancer Evo 7
80. Nakita StevensonMitsubishi Lancer Evo 7
M1 - denotes Manufacturer 1 entry.
M2 - denotes Manufacturer 2 entry.
P - denotes Production Car WRC entry.
## - Loeb's entry is provisional, depending on how he recovers from his mountain bike accident.
