History 1980s

1986 Rally New Zealand

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1986 Rally New Zealand

Date: July 1986

Start Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Finish Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Total Distance: ~500 km of special stages

Surface: Gravel

The 1986 Rally New Zealand delivered smooth gravel, high speeds, and beautiful scenery—but it was Juha Kankkunen who stole the show. In perfect harmony with the Peugeot 205 T16, he flowed through the twisty, cambered roads with confidence and composure, leaving rivals in the dust. The rally reinforced his title credentials as he secured another Group B victory with clinical precision.

Route

Maramarua Forest: Fast and flowing with wide corners and forgiving shoulders.
Rotorua Region: Undulating gravel with cambered turns that reward fluidity and balance.
Whangarei Stages: Mixed elevation and consistent grip allowed high average speeds throughout the weekend.

New Zealand’s rally stages are celebrated for their rhythm and smooth gravel surfaces:

The absence of extreme terrain or weather meant performance came down to setup, co-driver rhythm, and clean execution—Kankkunen and Piironen nailed them all.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Juha Kankkunen & Juha Piironen · Peugeot 205 T16
2nd Place
Malcolm Wilson & Nigel Harris · Ford RS200
3rd Place
Jorge Recalde & Martin Christie · Renault 11 Turbo

With another solid win, Kankkunen extended his championship momentum, proving he could dominate both rugged marathons and high-speed precision rallies alike.

Navigation & Challenges

  • High-Speed Rhythm: Mistimed pacenotes or overdriving broke the natural flow needed to win in NZ.
  • Clean Line Discipline: Maintaining consistent exits and weight transfer was key to maximizing corner speed.
  • Setup Consistency: Tire and suspension tuning for mid-speed grip and minimal oversteer gave top teams the edge.

The 1986 Rally New Zealand rewarded calm, calculated aggression—qualities Kankkunen had mastered as he surged toward a championship-winning season.

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