The possibility of winning the Pirelli star driver award and its prize of running in six rounds of the World Rally Championship next year is providing 18-year-old Whangarei driver Kirsty Nelson with added impetus for the NAC Insurance Hella International Rally of Whangarei, 6-8 June.
Nelson, along with six other drivers under the age of 27, has registered for the Pirelli star driver award, a world-wide search for five young rally drivers; one each from the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa regions and two from Europe.
Nelson's competitors in the Pirelli star driver competition in Whangarei, at this stage, are:
Hayden Paddon, age 21, Geraldine
Mark Tapper, age 27, Auckland
Sloan Cox, age 16, Rotorua
Andre Meier, age 19, Cambridge
Patrick Malley, age 24, Auckland
Brendan Reeves, age 20, Wedderburn, Victoria, Australia
The NAC Insurance Hella International Rally of Whangarei is the first-ever qualifying event for the Pirelli-backed star driver search which sees entrants assessed via a separate points' rating during the two day event. The top two Pirelli award drivers then receive financial assistance to contest the second qualifying event, Rally Malaysia, in October this year. The winner in Malaysia, the Asia Pacific Pirelli star driver, will join the other four regional winners to contest six FIA World Rally Championship events in 2009 in a dedicated Pirelli-funded works rally team.
Eligible drivers have until Friday 6 June to confirm their entry into the Pirelli competition.
 "To qualify, drivers must be under the age of 27 on 1 January this year and run a four-wheel-drive or two-wheel-drive Group N car," explains Laurie Brenssell, chairman of the NAC Insurance Hella International Rally of Whangarei organising committee. "It's the most fantastic opportunity for one of New Zealand's young rally stars to break into the world rally scene."
Nelson says she's really excited about NAC Insurance Hella International Rally of Whangarei. "We'll be looking to push hard for a good result."
Nelson and co-driver Michele Brunt are the only all-female crew entered for the Whangarei Rally, which is round three of the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) and round three of the Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC). Nelson is tenth equal in the NZRC, matched on points with Mark Tapper, another Pirelli star driver entrant.
Nelson's father, Peter, who runs her team, adds a comment: "Having the rally in your own backyard certainly makes it much easier to prepare for. We know the roads, we know the landscape and we're looking forward to a fantastic event."
The NAC Insurance Hella International Rally of Whangarei takes place from Friday 6 June to Sunday 8 June on various Northland and Kaipara District roads, with rally headquarters in Whangarei's Quayside Town Basin. Please visit the website www.rallywhangarei.co.nz for spectator information, stage times and maps.
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