History 2000s

2008 Rally New Zealand (New Zealand)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2008 Rally New Zealand (New Zealand)

Date: August 29–31, 2008

Start Location: Hamilton, New Zealand

Finish Location: Hamilton, New Zealand

Total Distance: ~1,374.00 km

Competitive Stages: 353.00 km

Surface: Gravel (fast, flowing, high-grip)

Rally New Zealand has long been a driver favorite, offering smooth, cambered gravel roads with incredible rhythm. The 2008 edition produced an unforgettable showdown between Sébastien Loeb and Mikko Hirvonen, decided by just 3.9 seconds after three intense days.

Route

Whaanga Coast: Iconic coastal stage with a mix of tight hairpins, fast sweepers, and cliffside drops — commitment essential.
Te Akau North & South: Long, rolling stages with perfect camber — demanded trust in the road to maintain high speed.
Port Waikato: Narrow and twisty with blind crests — required pinpoint pacenotes and unwavering concentration.

The rally’s stages combined technical challenge with breathtaking scenery. Standout tests included:

The grip levels were excellent thanks to hard-packed gravel, allowing drivers to push near asphalt-like cornering speeds.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Sébastien Loeb & Daniel Elena · Citroën C4 WRC
2nd Place
Mikko Hirvonen & Jarmo Lehtinen · Ford Focus RS WRC 07
3rd Place
Dani Sordo & Marc Martí · Citroën C4 WRC

Loeb and Hirvonen traded stage wins all weekend, with the lead changing hands multiple times. Loeb’s push in the final leg secured victory by less than four seconds, marking one of the sport’s tightest margins.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Blind Crests: Demanded precise pacenotes — misjudging speed meant disaster.
  • High-Speed Rhythm: Confidence in camber and road flow was crucial to carrying speed through long sections.
  • Pressure of the Clock: The incredibly close battle forced both leaders to drive at maximum attack for three straight days.

The 2008 Rally New Zealand will be remembered as a masterclass in high-speed gravel rallying, where two of the world’s best pushed each other to the limit on some of the planet’s most beautiful rally roads.

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