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This website is now dedicated to covering the Black Bullets. Current Black Bullets news is now provided on iSportz » with past news archived here for your continued reference.
Have you ever been watching the Rally of New Zealand and pondered about the earth that has needed to be moved in order to bring you the rallying talent you get to enjoy each year? If you answered ‘no’ then it’s about time you did because it takes thousands of dedicated individuals to help put it together and one of those people happens to be the woman with the enviable task of helping the Peugeot Sport Rally Team get sorted for the Rally of New Zealand – Natasha Hirtzel.
Natasha works for Sime Darby Automobiles NZ Ltd in Newmarket, the company that delivers you the Peugeot brand throughout New Zealand. Her role is difficult to define in a few words but is best summed up as their Marketing and Public Relations rep – a role encompassing advertising, marketing, sponsorships, events, public relations, press liaison and communication amongst other things.
Within that role also lies the responsibility of helping the Peugeot Sport team carry out a seamless operation before, during and after the Rally NZ and maximizing the promotion of the Peugeot brand that the event inevitably provides.
With the official governing body, the FIA, looking to maximize their commercial opportunities from the World Rally Championship, as has been the case with Formula One, the organization of one of New Zealand’s leading international sporting events has changed significantly.
“The removal of the testing at rounds outside Europe means that the team arrive a lot closer to the event’s start and the drivers only a couple of days before, so this has all led to the event being even more go, go, go!”, Natasha comments enthusiastically.
It is also in the ‘Peugeot Brand Promotion’ role that Natasha is an important cog in the Sime Darby Motors machine. By liaising closely with Peugeot Sport, Natasha ensures that she can maximize the opportunity for New Zealand media to have interviewing possibilities with the current leaders in the World Rally Championship. A lot of co-ordination has to be conducted between New Zealand and France before the team arrives in New Zealand.
“We have the obvious time zone barriers to deal with when working with the France-based Peugeot Sport team and therefore the job certainly involves a lot of hard work but it is also a lot of fun. The one word that readily comes to mind when discussing Peugeot Sport is ‘class’”, she says.
This class that Natasha refers to is the professionalism and dedication the Peugeot Sport team have in their approach to everything they do. They may do things in the French way but from their factory in France to their management team to their drivers, they all work towards a common goal. This common direction is also assisted by the fact that the Peugeot Sport Director, Corrado Provera is also the Head of Communications for Peugeot.
Natasha has been tremendously composed throughout our discussion, even though I know that she has probably got 20 other tasks all being directed her way while she takes an hour out of her busy schedule to enlighten this intrepid interviewer. I guess that’s what comes from having Mexican blood in your veins, being fluent in Spanish, Italian and conversant in French
However, it quickly became time to do the quick fire round of finding out some of Natasha’s motorsport ‘favourites’.
What is your favourite Motorsport Team?
Peugeot Sport [Well, duh – stupid question ed.]
What would help increase the profile of motorsport in New Zealand?
Greater education of the public in the skills and dedication required by the teams competing in motorsport and of course WRC.
What is your ultimate ambition in relation to motorsport right now?
Having the respect of the Peugeot Sport team and maximizing the benefits of the Peugeot NZ-Peugeot Sport relationship.
What is your Favourite Car?
Peugeot 206 Gti 180 (soon to be in NZ and the nearest thing to the 206 WRC)
Peugeot 307CC (with the GTi 180 engine of course)
What is your favourite motorsport event?
Rally NZ
Who is the person you respect the most in New Zealand motorsport?
Cherie Brown (Commercial Manager for Rally NZ). Cherie has broken the mould in many ways in her progression in a male-dominated sport and earned the respect of her colleagues and the competitors in motorsport.
Who is the person you respect the most in International motorsport?
There would be two here …
Corrado Provera (Peugeot Sport Director) – Incredible ability to communicate. Totally fluent in Italian, Spanish, French and English.
Marcus Gronholm – Even as a layman/woman in motorsport I can see he has an exceptional talent for racing in all conditions and he’s a really nice guy as well!
Motto to Live By …
If you think you can or think you can’t – you’re right! [Quote from Henry Ford.]
An appropriate motto indeed for someone so key to the continuing growth of the Peugeot brand in New Zealand. Thank you Natasha for your time.
MOTOR MOUTH: Have your say!
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