The wait is nearly over for motorsport fanatics with the return of the Mahindra Gold Rush Rally of Coromandel this weekend.

It will be the fifth round of the Brian Green Property Groups NZ Rally Champs and will feature up to 60 cars battling it out for pole position on Coromandel roads this Saturday.

The Mahindra Gold Rush Rally of Coromandel takes place this weekend, with a ceremonial start taking place in Whitianga on Friday night, followed by racing on Saturday. Photo: File

Ahead of the action, the weekend will be kicked off by the Whitianga Events Trust and Mercury Bay Business Association with a ceremonial start tonight in Blacksmith Lane, Whitianga, from 3pm to 6pm.

Blacksmith Lane will be closed for this event which will feature autograph signing sessions, bike races and activities, plus races cars and crews on display and around to meet the public.

And just to make life a little easier for locals, SunLive has listed the race route and road closures taking place this weekend:

RACE ROUTE

On the Saturday morning rally teams will depart from Mercury Bay Sports Park for nine special stages covering close to 140km of competitive distance. Those stages are:

Stage 1: From Ernslaw 1 (11.08km) just outside of Whitianga.

Stage 2: A tour down the coastline, through the 309 Road and a race against the clock for the first Service of the day back at the Mercury Bay Sports Park.

Stage 3: 23kms of Tapu–Coroglen, starting at the Coroglen side.

Stage 4: Another coastline tour north to Castle rock for the next stage, starting on the forestry road back to join the 309 Road for the second half of the stage.

Stage 5-6:Another service back at the Sports Park before a repeat of this 47 kilometre loop.

Stage 7: A spectacular tarmac publicity stage beside Whitianga Waterways.

Stage 8: A repeat of the 11.08km Ernslaw test.

Stage 9: The final stage will again be a second pass of the Whitianga spectator stage, along a section of Joan Gaskill Drive, to thrill the crowds before the finish celebrations on the finish ramp just prior to 5pm conclude the event.

Some of the stages will entail road closures during racing, which we are currently notifying residents and affected groups about.

ROAD CLOSURES:

Blacksmith Lane - Friday, August 21 Starting at the intersection with Albert St and finishing 250m from Albert St. Proposed closure from 3pm to 8pm.

Tapu-Coroglen Rd - Saturday August 22 Starting 3.9kms from State Highway 25 (Tapu end), and finishing at SH25 (Coroglen end). Proposed closure from 7.50am to 3.50pm.

The 309 Rd - Saturday August 22 Starting 1.3kms from SH25 (Coromandel end) and finishing 4.5kms from SH25 (Coromandel end) from 6.30am to 9.30am. Then starting 4kms from SH 25 (Coromandel end) and finishing 21kms from SH25 (Coromandel end) from 6.30am to 4pm.

Joan Gaskell Dr - Saturday August 22 Starting at SH25, and finishing 1.2km from SH25. Proposed closure from 1pm to 6pm.

DETOURS:

During the proposed periods of road closures provision will be made for ordinary vehicular traffic which would otherwise use the roads.

Tapu-Coroglen Road and the 309 Road: Detour via State highway 25 or State highway 25A (Kopu-Hikuai)

Joan Gaskell Drive: Detour via State Highway 25, Buffalo Beach Road and Albert Street to enter/exit Whitianga.

Signs advertising the road closures will also be going up in July.

For more information about the Mahindra Goldrush Rally visit: www.rallynz.org.nz

Rally duo Venita Fabbro and Phil Campbell celebrating after the 2014 Coromandel Gold Rush Rally of NZ. Photo: File