Tauranga's Phil Campbell heads to the second round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, this weekend's Rally Whangarei, looking for an increase in speed after building some confidence.

Campbell faced a rushed build up to the opening round, Rally Otago, when he had the biggest crash of his career only five days prior to the event.

Tauranga's Phil Campbell in action. Photo/File.

With the team working around the clock, he was able to make the start, but was understandably lacking the edge of confidence that netted him second place in last year's NZRC.

Since the opening round, Campbell has contested two club events and claims the car feels as good as ever, while his confidence is back to where it should be and the 29-year-old is keen to show the speed from last season in The Roofing Store Mitsubishi Evo 9.

The roads on the most northern round of the NZRC are ones that Campbell and co-driver Venita Fabbro enjoy, with a surface that allows competitors to carry huge corner speed and a fast flowing nature.

'I'm feeling really good heading to Whangarei, we've had a couple of really good events since Otago so it's been a really busy few weeks, but the car is working perfectly and my confidence is back,” says Phil.

'Plus it's always such a fun event, the grip in the roads up there allow you to carry so much speed, it's just fantastic.

This year's Rally Whangarei starts with a ceremonial start and two passes of the Pohe Island Super Special Stage from 6pm. The high speed special stages get underway the following day with 154km of special stages, with a further 120km of special stages on Sunday before the finish at Quayside town basin from 3pm.