Two time Targa Rotorua event winnerLeigh Hopper is delighted that another stage has been added to the Targa Rally on the Coromandel Peninsula this year.

But forget about any advantage this might give the top-flight rally driver.

Two-time Targa Rotorua event winners Leigh Hopper and Simon Kirkpatrick will start this weekend's Targa North Island event favourites. Photo credit: www.groundsky.co.nz

Cambridge driver Paul Collins will give his new Ford Mustang Laguna Seca version it's New Zealand debut in the new Targa North Island event. Photo credit: Graham Hughes

As managing director of Hopper Developments, Leigh is a frequent visitor to Whitianga and the Coromandel Peninsula, but he usually flies in and seldom drives around the place.

He certainly isn't intimately acquainted with the road over Pumpkin (Tairua) Hill, which forms the new stage of the rally.

But he doesn't believe that frequent driving of the new stage necessarily means an advantage.

'Last time we did the Coromandel-Whangapoua stage, we won by a second and I'd only driven over there once or twice before in my life.

'It's more about being totally focused on the section of road in front of you and about having the tools to extract the acceleration and braking you need.”

Leigh's been rally driving for about seven years and has achieved considerable success, twice winning Targa Rotorua, and in March this year the Targa Sprint in Pukekohe.

Rallying is a good adrenalin buzz, he says.

'It's the last domain where you can be legally reckless. Where, if things go wrong, you won't be charged.”

He and co-driver Simon Kirkpatrick will climb aboard their 'modified monster” Subaru Impreza WRX for the start of the rally at Simunovich Olive Estate in the Bombay Hills south of Auckland Friday morning.

The three-day event is one of two special rallies held this year to mark Targa's 20th anniversary. This weekend's Targa North Island combines Targa Rotorua and Targa Bambina, usually held on the peninsula. The main six-day event is in the South Island in October - November.

A field of 100 cars will head for the peninsula Friday after stages at Te Kauwhata and on the Hauraki Plains. There are 74 competition cars and 26 associated classic and late model exotic Targa Tour cars.

The field includes last year's Targa New Zealand winners Martin Dippie and Jona Grant.

The first peninsula stage is over the Whangapoua Hill, starting 3.35pm.

SH25 is closed between Tiki Rd, just south of Coromandel town, and Castle Rock Winery, at Te Rerenga, between 2.30 and 5.30pm Friday afternoon.

The Tour cars take the stage first in a convoy, followed by rally competitors racing individually against the clock.

Then it's on to Whitianga where the cars will be serviced at the Mercury Bay Multi Sport Park, at Moewai Park Rd, before being parked overnight at the Lee St carpark. Members of the public are welcome at both venues with rally cars expected to arrive at the park at 4.20pm and Lee Street from just before 5pm. There's a charity car wash of Tour cars at Lee St from 4.30pm.

Early on Saturday, the field moves to Whenuakite for the new Pumpkin Hill stage.

Organisers say it's a highly anticipated event, with drivers rating it as one of the best and most challenging tarmac roads in the country. The road is closed from 6.45am to 10am with the first car away at 8am. Best spectator viewing will be walk-ins from either end.

The rally carries on through Whiritoa and Waihi to Rotorua, where it ends on Sunday.

Drifter Cam Vernon will demonstrate his skills on selected stages over the three days. Photo credit: Graham Hughes