Dust, Gravel, and a Top-Class Finish at the Coromandel Rally

There’s nothing quite like rally day in New Zealand. Last weekend, the Whitianga area came alive with the roar of engines as 50 cars lined up for the Coromandel Rally. The top of the entry list was stacked — R2s, R5s, AP4s, and a handful of Protos, all fighting for the spotlight.

In the middle of all this modern machinery, Julien turned up with his 2001 Subaru Impreza, fitted with an X Shift gearbox. And what a run he had. When the dust settled, Julien crossed the line 11th overall and 2nd in class (NZRC5). Just ahead of him? A brand-new Toyota Yaris Proto running an Evo 10 gearbox — not exactly easy competition to beat.

That’s what makes this result so impressive. Against a field of cutting-edge builds, Julien’s older Subaru backed by the strength and precision of an X Shift gearbox proved it could still punch above its weight. No missed shifts, no reliability worries, just pure performance when it mattered most.

This is exactly what we love seeing from our drivers: gearboxes that don’t just survive rally conditions, but help you stay competitive even against much newer setups. Whether it’s a modern AP4 car or a twenty-year-old Subaru, the right gearbox can make all the difference.

If you’re running a rally car and want to see what a proven gearbox can do for your results, check out our gear ratio configurator on the new website — you can play with different setups instantly and find the right option for your build.

Until then, hats off to Julien for an incredible drive in Coromandel. A true reminder that with the right equipment, experience, and determination, even the “underdog” can come out near the top.