Millen racing in NZ

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 282, 11 April 1989, Page 6 (Supplement)

Millen racing in NZ

Expatriate New Zealander, Rod Millen, is taking his challenge of this years Rothmans Rally of New Zealand very seriously and will spend a month before the event preparing his pace notes and other logistical requirements. Millen's campaign in New Zealand is the first stage of his challenge for the Pacific/Asian Championship during

which he will drive identical Mazda 323 4WD Turbo rally cars. Co-driver for Millen will be another expatriate New Zealander, Tony Sircombe, whose parents live in Otorohanga. Sircombe has already visited this country to make preliminary plans with the help of local Mazda personnel and the organising committee. Sircombe was better known a few years ago as co-driver for the late American rally champion, John Buffum. He joined the Prodrive Team last year before joining Millen in America this season. "We plan to fully pace note the Rothmans Rally during June so that Rod can return

briefly to America to compete in the Pikes Peak event between 2nd and 9th July," said Sircombe. "Being an old King Country boy, I know quite a few of the roads from my previous rally days in New Zealand." Millen and Sircombe will prepare one Mazda for the New Zealand and Australian rounds of the World Rally Champi-

onship, while the second car will be used at two of the other Pacific/Asian rounds in Indonesia and Malaysia. The Rothmans Rally of New Zealand will start at Auckland on 15 July and finish back at Auckland four days later after nearly 2000 kilometers of rallying through the top and central parts of the North Island.