2008 Rally New Zealand 38th Repco Rally New Zealand | |||
---|---|---|---|
Round 11 of the 2008 World Rally Championship
| |||
Host country | New Zealand | ||
Rally base | Hamilton | ||
Dates run | 28 August – 31 2008 | ||
Stages | 18 (353.04 km; 219.37 miles)[1] | ||
Stage surface | Gravel | ||
Overall distance | 1,218.20 km (756.95 miles)[1] | ||
Statistics | |||
Crews | 64 at start, 35[1] at finish | ||
Overall results | |||
Overall winner | Sébastien Loeb Citroën Total World Rally Team |
The 2008 Rally New Zealand was the eleventh round of the 2008 World Rally Championship season. The event was based on the northern island of the country near the city of Hamilton. The stages were run on gravel roads characterised by their pronounced camber, which gives them a fast flowing nature. They are also known for their picturesque qualities.[2] The rally ran between 28 and 31 August. Sébastien Loeb won his forty-fourth WRC rally, and his eighth of the season, in a dramatic event, where Mikko Hirvonen came third after being passed in the latter stages of the rally. Daniel Sordo, like Loeb, also driving for Citroën, claimed 2nd place. After the event Loeb had an eight-point lead over Hirvonen in the drivers championship with four events remaining.