History 2000s

2004 Rally New Zealand (New Zealand)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2004 Rally New Zealand (New Zealand)

Date: April 16–18, 2004

Start Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Finish Location: Auckland, New Zealand

Total Distance: ~1,150 km (estimated full route)

Competitive Stages: 395.00 km

Surface: Gravel

Set among the picturesque hills and valleys of New Zealand’s North Island, the 2004 edition of Rally New Zealand offered some of the smoothest, fastest gravel roads in the WRC. Petter Solberg found his rhythm early and dominated the event, leading from start to finish and putting his world title defense back on track with a much-needed win.

Route

Waitomo: Famous for its fast corners and rolling farmland setting — demanded maximum commitment.
Whaanga Coast: Technical coastal road with steep drop-offs and changing grip — high risk, high reward.
Te Akau: Flowing and rhythm-based — smooth gravel allowed for aggressive setups and big slides.

The event featured wide, cambered roads that rewarded precision and bravery. Key stages included:

The dry weather provided consistently fast conditions, and the lack of deep ruts allowed drivers to maintain optimal lines across both passes of most stages.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Petter Solberg & Phil Mills · Subaru Impreza WRC
2nd Place
Marcus Grönholm & Timo Rautiainen · Peugeot 307 WRC
3rd Place
Carlos Sainz & Marc Martí · Citroën Xsara WRC

Solberg dominated the rally from the first stage, consistently setting top times while managing tires and minimizing mistakes. Grönholm and Sainz gave chase, but neither could match the pace of the reigning world champion on his favorite surface.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Corner Camber: New Zealand’s unique road shape allowed drivers to lean into turns — those who trusted the car gained seconds per stage.
  • High-Speed Rhythm: Drivers had to maintain flow and anticipate transitions — co-driver rhythm was critical.
  • Clean Lines: The loose gravel punished errors more than heavy braking — Solberg’s fluid style was ideal for these conditions.

Solberg’s commanding win in New Zealand was a reminder of his mastery on fast gravel and an important step in regaining momentum in the 2004 championship battle.

← Previous Event 2004 Rally Mexico (Mexico)
Back to Events Index
2004 Cyprus Rally (Cyprus) Next Event →

Watch rallies anywhere — bypass region blocks with NordVPN.

Fast servers for HD streams Servers in 60+ countries 30-day money-back

Unblock coverage — Save up to 77% + 3 months free

Sponsored link. Using our partner links helps support Compromised Internals at no extra cost to you.