Start:	14 July 1979 in Auckland
Finish:	18 July 1979 in Auckland
Distance:	2016 km including 672 km over 42 special stages (of which 2 were cancelled)
Special stage surface:	Asphalt and gravel
Participants:	82 teams at the start, 39 at the finish

 

Leg 1

Sunday 15-Jul-1979

SS1

Western Springs

SS2

Twilight Road

SS3

Creightons Road

SS4

Pukekohe

SS5

Monument Road

SS6

Whangapou Forest

SS7

(cancelled)

SS8

Tairua Forest 1

SS9

Tairua Forest 2

SS10

Pukewera Road

SS11

Trig South Road

SS12

Athenree Forest

SS13

Busby Road

SS14

North Road

SS15

Crawford Road

Leg 2

Monday 16-Jul-1979

SS16

Bay Park

SS17

Ohauiti Road

SS18

Waimangu Road

SS19

Fletcher Forest

SS20

Taupo Forest 1

SS21

Taupo Forest 2

SS22

Hikumutu Road

SS23

Okahukura Road

SS24

Opotiki Road

SS25

Junction Road

SS26

Makuri Road

SS27

Albert Road

Leg 3

Tuesday 17-Jul-1979

SS28

Dover Road

SS29

Kaimata Road

SS30

Otarada Road

SS31

Mangatoa Road

SS32

Totoro Road

SS33

Walker Road

SS34

Hoddle Road

SS35

Honikiwi Road

SS36

Pirongia W. Road

SS37

Old Mountain Road

SS38

Waikareti Road

SS39

Spring Hill Road

SS40

Kellyville Road

SS41

(cancelled)

SS42

Pukekohe

Rally total:

658.00 km

Lista startowa.

1. Hannu Mikkola (SF) / Arne Hertz (S) – Ford Escort RS 1800.

2.   Pentti Airikkala (SF) / Rodger Freeth (NZ) – Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS.

3.   Ari Vatanen (SF) / David Richards (GB) – Ford Escort RS 1800.

4. Timo Salonen / Seppo Harjanne (SF) – Datsun 160J.

5.   Blair Robson / Chris Porter (NZ) – Ford Escort RS 1800.

6.   Andy Dawson / Kevin Gormley (GB) – Datsun 160J.

7.   Jim Donald / Kevin Lancaster (NZ) – Ford Escort RS.

9. Paul Adams / Mike Franchi (NZ) – Ford Escort RS.

10. John Woolf / Grant Whittaker (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3.

11. Mike Marshall (NZ) / Jeff Beaumont (AUS) – Ford Escort RS.

12. Howard Collier / David Cooke (NZ) – Ford Escort RS.

13. Leo Leonard / Neil Cruikshanks (NZ) – Ford Escort RS.

14. Bob Couch / John Couch (NZ) – Ford Escort RS.

15. Tony Teesdale / Gary Smith (NZ) – Ford Escort RS.

16. Brian Green / Robert Orr (NZ) – Ford Escort RS.

17. Hugh Armstrong / David Murie (NZ) – Ford Escort RS.

18. Paddy Davidson / Paul Greaves (NZ) – Ford Escort Twin Cam.

19. David Parkes / Stuart Green (NZ) – Ford Escort 1600.

20. Mark Jennings / Keith Cook (NZ) – Ford Escort RS.

21. Morrie Chandler / Don Campbell (NZ) – Mitsubishi Lancer.

22. John Tee / R.Kelois (NZ) – Ford Escort.

23. John Sergel / Mike Fletcher (NZ) – Ford Escort RS.

24. Ken Adamson / Stuart McFarlane (NZ) – Toyota Corolla Levin.

25. Rob Gerard / Peter Cunliffe (NZ) – Ford Escort.

26. Bob Robb / Malcolm Gavin (NZ) – Datsun 710.

27. Roger Goss / Colin Green (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3.

28. Alfred Goldsbury / Russell Thomson (NZ) – Fiat 131 Racing.

29. Shane Murland / Peter Parnell (NZ) – Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS.

30. Malcolm Stewart / Doug Parkhill (NZ) – Ford Escort Mexico.

31. Frank Kidd / Paul Higgins (NZ) – Ford Escort.

32. Tony Baker / Marlene Baker (NZ) – Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS.

33. Graeme de Pina / Ron Aitken (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3.

34. Ray Wilson / Doug Bone (NZ) – Morris Mini.

35. Alan Fergus / Roger Croft (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3.

36. Paul Fraser / Trevor Gillard (NZ) – Ford Escort.

37. Peter Cullen / Allan Tait (NZ) – Ford Escort.

38. Robert Brown / Mike Gibbs (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3.

39. Bruce McKenzie / Andrew Neilson (NZ) – Ford Escort Mexico.

40. Baron Robertson (AUS) / Bryan Andrews (NZ) – Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS.

41. Dennis McConnell / Warren Maskell (NZ) – Ford Escort Mexico.

42. Errol Bruce / Greg Walker (NZ) – Ford Escort.

43. John Kershaw / Jane Buckman (NZ) – Vauxhall Magnum.

44. Bruce Reid / Peter Johnson (NZ) – Ford Escort.

45. Gerry Piper / Rob Cope Williams (NZ) – Toyota Corolla.

46. Dave Mackrow / Alan Beecher (NZ) – Hillman Avenger.

47. Bill McFarlane / Gillian McFarlane (NZ) – Ford Escort.

48. Chris Kirk Burnnand / Andrew McKay (NZ) – Toyota Corolla.

49. Richard Kelsey / Murray Thomas (NZ) – Ford Escort.

50. Rusty McKnight / Frances McKnight (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3.

51. Gleen Ellis / Earl Ellis (NZ) – Mazda RX 3.

52. Dermott Malley / James Kidd (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3.

53. Gary Sprague / Bob Friend (NZ) – Mazda Rx 2.

54. Terry Bell / Jeff Mathews (NZ) – Ford Escort.

55. Peter Moore / Craig Wilson (NZ) – Ford Escort.

56. Mike Lane / Bob Mitchell (NZ) – Toyota Corolla.

57. Brent Rawstron (GB) / Shirley Rawstron (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3.

58. David Thexton / David Peters (NZ) – Datsun 120Y.

59. Cam Taylor /  ? (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3.

60. Larry Tinpany / Warren Egen (NZ) – Škoda 120.

61. Rolf Lilleby / Richard Halls (NZ) – Ford Escort.

62. Doug Townsend / Ernie Lawrence (NZ) – Ford Escort.

63. Ken King / Philip Meyer (NZ) – Ford Escort RS.

64. Phil Ornstien / Tony Ornstien (NZ) – Hillman Avenger.

65. Steve Thompson / Graeme Vallely (NZ) – Ford Escort.

66. Richard Johnstone / Craig Bird (NZ) – Datsun 710.

67. Peter Dahl (NZ) / Warwick Bell (AUS) – Datsun 120Y.

68. Richard Prouse / Silvana Prouse (NZ) – Hillman Avenger.

69. Barry Nicholl / Graeme Fenn (NZ) – Mitsubishi Lancer.

70. Gavin Riches / Malcolm Fleury (NZ) – Toyota Corolla.

71. David Glenn / Richard Syverston (NZ) – Ford Escort.

72. Chris Cowen / Graeme Pickett (NZ) – Toyota Corolla.

73. Lyell McMillan / Neil Mugford (NZ) – Toyota Corolla.

74. Brian Walker / Jill Gordon (NZ) – Ford Escort.

75. Wayne Matheson / Russell Murray (NZ) – Ford Escort.

76. Rangi Greenland / Graeme Anderson (NZ) – Honda Civic.

77. Stewart McKenzie / Patrick Grant (NZ) – Datsun Sunny.

79. Brian Davis / Dean Davis (NZ) – Ford Escort.

80. Richard Mc.Nair / Glenn Cox (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3.

81. Mike Cameron / John de la Rue (NZ) – Mitsubishi Lancer.

82. Ian Goodin / Jeffrey Goodin (NZ) – Ford Escort.

84. Paul Pearson / Kevin Brickley (NZ) – Ford Escort.

Hannu Mikkola i Arne Hertz – Ford Escort RS 1800.

Timo Salonen i Seppo Harjanne – Datsun 160J.

Paul Adams i Mike Franchi – Ford Escort RS.

Rally notes

• Special stage winners: Mikkola 22, Vatanen 8, Adams 7, Airikkala 3, Dawson 2, Robson 1.
• Rally leaders: SS 1-2 Airikkala, SS 3-42 Mikkola.
• Two stages cancelled: one because of too much water, the other because of problems with the local community.
• Salonen and Dawson disqualified because the Datsun team didn't allow the engines to be checked when the organisers requested it. It was unclear whether there was a miscommunication, or the Datsun engines had been illegal during the rally.
• Of the 39 finishers 14 were excluded for exceeding maximum lateness. After the disqualification of Salonen and Dawson only 23 cars were officially classified.
• Times were given in hours, minutes and hundredths of a minute. In the result presented above for consistency reasons the hundredths of a minute are converted to seconds and tenths of a second. For instance the time of winner Mikkola was given as 8:05.78 in the official result.
• The largest part of the event was run in darkness.

(Sport 152 / 1995)

Official name:	Motogard Rally of New Zealand
Edition:	10th
Date:	from Saturday 14-Jul-1979 to Wednesday 18-Jul-1979
Surface:	Tarmac/gravel
Entries:	83
Starters:	82
Finishers:	37	(45.1% of starters)
Stages:	42
Planned stage distance:	658.00	km	(33.0% of total distance)
Actual stage distance:	657.00	km	(33.0% of total distance)
Road section distance:	1,335.00	km
Total distance:	1,992.00	km

Klasyfikacja generalna.

1. Hannu Mikkola (SF) / Arne Hertz (S) – Ford Escort RS 1800 gr.4.      8h05’46’’8

2. Blair Robson / Chris Porter (NZ) – Ford Escort RS 1800 gr.4.             -21’16’’2

3. Ari Vatanen (SF) / David Richards (GB) – Ford Escort RS 1800 gr.4.      -23’54”0

4. Paul Adams / Mike Franchi (NZ) – Ford Escort RS 1800 gr.4.       -24’07”2

5. Shane Murland / Peter Parnell (NZ) – Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS gr.4.   -58’36”6

6. David Parkes / Stuart Green (NZ) – Ford Escort 1600 GT gr.2.     -1h03’47”4

7. Brian Green / Robert Orr (NZ) – Ford Escort RS 1800 gr.4.       -1h06’49”8

8. Robert Goss / Colic Green (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3 gr.2.       -1h20’28”2

9. Malcolm Stewart / Doug Parkhill (NZ) – Ford Escort Mexico gr.2.  -1h21’34”2

10. Bob Robb / Malcolm Gavin (NZ) – Datsun Violet 710 gr.2.    -1h31’46”2

11. Alfred Goldsbury / Russell Thomson (NZ) – Fiat 131 Racing gr.1   -1h32’45”0

12. Robert Brown / Mike Gibbs (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3 gr.1.   -1h50’32”4

13. Ray Wilson / Doug Bone (NZ) – Mini 1275 GT gr.2.     -1h51’25”8

14. Ken Adamson / Stuart McFarlane (NZ) – Toyota Corolla Levin gr.2.    -1h53’43”

15. Rusty McKnight / Frances McKnight (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3 gr.2.    -1h57’06”

16. Dermott Malley / James Kidd (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3 gr.2.    -2h00’27”

17. Gerry Piper / Rob Cope Williams (NZ) – Toyota Corolla gr.2.   -2h07’28”

18. Brent Rawstron / Shirley Rawstron (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3 gr.2.    -2h21’31”

19. Errol Bruce / Greg Walker (NZ) – Ford Escort gr.1.   -2h24’05”

20. Chris Kirk Burnnand / Andrew McKay (NZ) – Toyota Corolla gr.2.      -2h29’26”

21. Gleen Ellis / Earl Ellis (NZ) – Mazda RX 3 gr.2.         -2h32’38”

22. Bruce Reid / Peter Johnson (NZ) – Ford Escort gr.2.        -2h36’17”

23. Gavin Riches / Malcolm Fleury (NZ) – Toyota Corolla gr.2.   -2h46’11”

24. John Tee / R.Kelois (NZ) – Ford Escort gr.2.    -2h55’15”

25. Gary Sprague / Bob Friend (NZ) – Mazda Rx 2 gr.1.      -2h58’53”

26. Peter Moore / Craig Wilson (NZ) – Ford Escort gr.2.    -3h12’29”

27. Richard Prouse / Silvana Prouse (NZ) – Hillman Avenger gr.1.   -3h24’11”

28. David Glenn / Richard Syverston (NZ) – Ford Escort gr.1.      -3h33’34”

29. Stewart McKenzie / Patrick Grant (NZ) – Datsun Sunny gr.2.    -4h11’57”

30. Steve Thompson / Graeme Vallely (NZ) – Ford Escort gr.2.   -4h19’02”

31. Rangi Greenland / Graeme Anderson (NZ) – Honda Civic gr.1.    -4h22’13”

32. Mike Cameron / John de la Rue (NZ) – Mitsubishi Lancer gr.1.    -4h25’08”

33. Phil Ornstien / Tony Ornstien (NZ) – Hillman Avenger gr.1.   -4h32’39”

34. Paul Pearson / Kevin Brickley (NZ) – Ford Escort gr.2.    -4h40’34”

35. Richard Johnstone / Craig Bird (NZ) – Datsun 710 gr.2.     -4h43’43”

36. ?  /  ? - ?               -4h48’13”

37. Richard Mc.Nair / Glenn Cox (NZ) – Mazda Rx 3 gr.2.       -4h52’38”

Nie ukończyli m.in:

Timo Salonen / Seppo Harjanne (SF) – Datsun 160J gr.2.     dyskwalifikacja

Andy Dawson / Kevin Gormley (GB) – Datsun 160J gr.2.     dyskwalifikacja

OS 18. Pentti Airikkala (SF) / Rodger Freeth (NZ) – Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS gr.4.   elektryka

OS 16. Jim Donald / Kevin Lancaster (NZ) – Ford Escort RS 1800 gr.4.      korbowód

OS 18. John Woolf / Grant Whittaker (NZ) – Mazda Rx3 gr.2.     tylna oś

OS 20. Mike Marshall (NZ) / Jeff Beaumont (AUS) – Ford Escort RS gr.4.   uszczelka pod głowicą

OS 18. Howard Collier / David Cooke (NZ) – Ford Escort RS gr.4.    uszczelka pod głowicą

OS 19. Leo Leonard / Neil Cruikshanks (NZ) – Ford Escort RS gr.4.     ciśnienie oleju

OS 17. Bob Couch / John Couch (NZ) – Ford Escort RS gr.4.    dyferencjał

OS 16. Tony Teesdale / Gary Smith (NZ) – Ford Escort RS gr.2.     urwany wał

OS 9. Hugh Armstrong / David Murie (NZ) – Ford Escort RS gr.4.         uszczelka pod głowicą

OS 29. Paddy Davidson / Paul Greaves (NZ) – Ford Escort Twin Cam gr.2.    wypadek

Wystartowały 82 załogi, ukończyło 37.