2026 Round Three: SBT Group Taranaki Tarmac Rally

The Hawkeswood Mining North Island Rally Series returns to the ‘Naki!

Our third round of the 2026 NIRS calendar will be the SBT Group Taranaki Tarmac Rally, based in New Plymouth on the 27 June 2026. We have 130kms of Special Stages with some tight, twisty and fast bumpy tarmac roads around both the Taranaki and South Taranaki districts. The event will include a National Permit, an unrestricted Class for Targa competitors, and a Clubman Rally.

Organised by Taranaki Car Club in partnership with South Taranaki Car Club partnership, competitors will be traversing 160kms of the most challenging tarmac roads in NZ! Up and down Mt. Taranaki on slippery tight and twisty stages, and the faster roads around the infamous Inglewood yumps. It has been no secret that these clubs have aspirations to become an NZRC Round in the future.

Safety notes will be available for purchase from Rally Notes NZ for the National competitors. To quote Stig Blomqvist – “To be a champion driver you need to be good on all surfaces in all conditions.” Which of our drivers will come out on top?

Thank you to all of our sponsors,