The Hawkeswood Mining North Island Rally Series are delighted to announce the return of the Possum Bourne Memorial Rally and Vantage Windows and Doors sponsorship of the one-day event. The opening round of the 2026 series, the North Waikato Rally now becomes the Possum Bourne Memorial Rally taking place on the very roads where the late Possum Bourne learnt his trade.
“We are thrilled to have both this event and Vantage Windows and Doors coming on board,” commented rally co-ordinator Marty Roestenburg. “It is fantastic to see the return of this event to the rallying calendar and particularly to Possum’s local roads.”
Originally the Possum Bourne Memorial Rally evolved out of a memorial rally sprint run by the Pukekohe Car Club with the last event back in 2013. This season, to be run on Saturday 21 March 2026, the event is organised by a partnership of Auckland, Pukekohe and South Auckland Car Clubs.
It will be based at the Te Akau Community Centre in Te Akau and has three ex-World Rally Championship stages which will be repeated, totalling 140 kms of magnificent public gravelled roads. It’s a perfect shakedown opportunity for both the coming season and for those heading to Rally Otago’s 50th Anniversary event in April.
Legend has it that Peter Bourne rolled his mother’s Humber 80 on the back roads of Pukekohe while trying to avoid running over a possum, hence the nickname stuck with one of NZ’s best rally drivers.
Before his untimely passing in 2003, Bourne won the NZ Rally Championship in 1991 and went on to win the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (1993, ‘94, ‘99) and the Australian Rally Championship seven times consecutively (1996-2002), plus the iconic Ashley Forest Rallysprint (1989, 1991, 2000) and the Queenstown Race to the sky in 2001). In 1993 he became the first New Zealand resident to have a works contract in a Fédération Internationale du Sport Automobile rally championship, when he drove a Subaru Legacy for Prodrive.
Vantage Windows & Doors, are proud to support the upcoming North Waikato Rally as the naming sponsor. Continuing a relationship that reflects Bourne’s legacy of performance, innovation and commitment to excellence. Vantage supported Possum throughout key stages of his career and has remained closely connected to New Zealand motorsport, backing events and competitors that celebrate skill, resilience and the next generation of rally talent.
Craig Vincent, CEO of Profile Group, parent company behind the Vantage Windows and Doors brand and primary co-driver to Possum Bourne speaks of his support for the North Waikato Rally. “Poss and I competed together for many years, including national and international rally events, and achieved some of the most rewarding moments of our careers through that partnership,” said Vincent.
“Rallying is built on trust between driver and co-driver, and Possum demanded absolute commitment – something that pushed us both to perform at our best. Supporting the Possum Bourne Memorial Rally through Vantage is a way for us to honour that history, celebrate what we achieved together, and ensure Possum’s legacy continues on the roads where it all began.”
This season, the Hawkeswood Mining North Island Rally Series will be run over six separate events with the best results from five out of the six rounds determining the 2026 Driver and Co-driver champions. All Rounds include an 80km Clubmans offering for novice and rookie competitors.
The 2026 North Island Rally Series acknowledges and thanks these partners for their support: Hawkeswood Mining, Semog, Pure Quality Construction, RallyDrive NZ, Paddon Racing Group, iSignit, Ngatea Panelbeaters and Online Contractors.
2026 Hawkeswood Mining North Island Rally Series Calendar
Round 1: Vantage Windows and Doors Possum Bourne Memorial Rally – 21 March 2026 – ACC, PCC & SACC JV partnership
Round 2: Newstead Lodge Rally of Waitomo – 17 May 2026 – Hamilton Car Club
Round 3: SBT Group Taranaki Tarmac Rally – 27 June 2026 – South Taranaki & Taranaki Car Clubs
Round 4: Rally Taumarunui – 8 August 2026 – Marathon Car Club
Round 5: Battery Town Rally Bay of Plenty (NZRC) – 31 October 2026 – Motorsport BOP
Round 6: RallyDriveNZ Maramarua Forest Rally – 14 November 2026 – ACC, PCC, SACC JV
Prepared by SB Networks on behalf of the North Island Rally Series
For more information contact Benjamin Carrell on 0272 444 651 or via e-mail on benjamin@sundaybusiness.co.nz
Or Marty Roestenburg (NIRS Coordinator) on 021 943517 or via email martyroestenburgnz@gmail.com
