Documentary | 17 July 1987

Hot favourite for the eighth round of the World Rally Championship, to take place in New Zealand, was up-and-coming Swedish star Kenneth Eriksson in the Volkswagen Golf 16-valve GTI. Few of the major manufacturers undertook the long trip to Auckland, making the event one in which the talented youngster could acquire valuable points. This video follows his progress throughout the four days of the rally, which featured 36 special stages with exotic names such as Mystery Creek, French Pass and Rerewhakaaitu. The AWA Clarion event was supported by Ford through the Motogard Rallysport Team which entered a Sierra XR 4x4 for Stig Blomqvist, Lancia with Markkus Alen's Portuguese recce car in the hands of Franz Wittman, and Subaru, Mazda and Nissan, though not in factory-backed trim.