Scenic splendour of final day of AA ENERGYWISE Rally

After a grueling three days of fuel-efficiency focused driving, next Thursday, the final day of the four-day 2010 AA ENERGYWISE Rally brings in a delightful morning of East Coast scenery as the Rally heads back via Tauranga to the finish line in Auckland.

Running from Monday 11 to Thursday 14 October the two-yearly AA ENERGYWISE Rally is organised by the AA, the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA), and Gull Petroleum New Zealand.

After an overnight and refuel in Rotorua, the 49 drivers and their vehicles hit the road at 7.30am, continuing around the lake past the airport on SH33, making their way down into the Bay of Plenty before rejoining SH2 to Te Puke, Mt Maunganui and Tauranga.

“Then it’s that last stretch of the journey when every drop of fuel really counts; not a race for the finish but a race to get their as cheaply as possible,” says Chief Executive Mike Underhill.

The last leg takes them via Waihi, Paeroa and across the Hauraki Plains to Pokeno, rejoining the motorway to reach the final refuel around midday at Gull on Roscommon Road in Manukau. The total distance for the day is approximately 270km. It is the final stage in the 1,780km North Island route.

Results will be compiled during the afternoon with the winners being announced at an awards dinner that evening, 14 October.