The world's best rally car drivers are touching down in New Zealand ahead of this week's world championship race in Auckland.
Among them former world champion Petter Solberg – a New Zealand Rally winner in 2004 who hasn’t raced here since 2012.
Although he’ll be taking a back seat this time around, instead watching on from his son Oliver's rear view mirror.
“It's what we have been waiting for for a long time and also Oliver was born when I was doing this rally in 2001,” Solberg told 1News.
This year is the 21-year-old's first season on the World Rally Circuit although he has experience with Aotearoa, having come to Auckland when his dad raced here 10 years ago in his last New Zealand appearance.
Oliver’s mum Pernilla Walfridson told 1News she knew their son would make his own way here eventually.
“He grew up following Petter on the rallies,” she recalled.
“I brought him to as many events as we could for us we could also follow him - it's a different kind of thing but now it's more stressful.”
Oliver himself is pinching himself at the opportunity.
“It's quite crazy to be racing here in New Zealand 10 years later when you have so much great memories.”
Solberg senior finished third back in 2012 - the last time the competition visited Kiwi shores.
He said the event needs to become a permanent fixture.
“This rally needs to be in the WRC calendar - rally drivers love to come to New Zealand,” he said.
His son will love it more if he can make a special memory of his own this week on the gravel.
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