McRae set for Rally NZ - and NZRC.

Former Mitsubishi and Hyundai WRC works driver, Alister McRae has announced that he will compete on the Rally New Zealand this autumn, as part of his programme in the New Zealand Rally Championship.

McRae's participation in the six-round NZRC has come about as a result of his relationship with suspension manufacturer Proflex, which began in the 1990s and continues to this day, through his work as a development driver for the RED/Toyota South Africa Super 2000 project. The activity is designed to raise the profile of the suspension component manufacturer and specialist in NZ and the program will be run by a team set up specifically for the championship.

The Proflex Motorsport team is currently finalising the budget for the full season, which should see McRae in a latest-specification Group N Subaru Impreza.

"I'm delighted to have been approached by the Proflex Motorsport team to compete in New Zealand," said McRae. "I've worked with the brand for years, including still on the Toyota and on the Group N Subaru which we used in the 2004 FIA Production car World Rally Championship.

"I've always been extremely impressed with not only the products themselves but the support and expertise which go with them. Proflex always works very closely with the team to develop the right products for the particular application and then get the most from them, so I'm sure this will be a successful programme."

The first round, the Otago Rally is based in Dunedin in the south island and begins next weekend [April 14]. It is a two-day event, however, unlike WRC events, the one-day recce only allows a single pass of the stages prior to the start of the rally. While this will make things slightly more difficult for McRae, he is still relishing the challenge.

"I'm really looking forward to getting back in a rally car for a high level event," he continued. "This will be my first time in a group N car for around a year - I did the Pirelli Rally in the British Rally Championship this time last year and am looking forward to it. Of course, I did the Wales Rally GB in the Toyota but Group N requires a very different driving style but one which is extremely enjoyable on the New Zealand stages.

"I think only having one pass over the stages on the recce may mean that some of the local guys have a bit more experience but I'm hoping it won't put us at too much of a disadvantage.

"We'll start with a set of 'Jemba' computer-generated notes provided by the organisers and refine those on the recce and do the best we can against the local guys, who are always quick."