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Kiwis to prove their driving skills

Monday 11 June 2012, 11:29AM

By The PR Shop

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Brother paper cars
Brother paper cars Credit: The PR Shop
Alex Kelsey - Brother Rally of Whangarei
Alex Kelsey - Brother Rally of Whangarei Credit: The PR Shop

AUCKLAND

At the Brother Rally New Zealand, round seven of the World Rally Championship, 21-24 June, Brother will be gearing up to launch The Brother Cup – a people’s rally experience in virtual rally car simulators.

Engines will be revving all weekend long in dual simulators that replicate the rally experience. The Brother Cup will be a New Zealand-first for these simulators by using a rally stage and co-driver element, so you won’t want to miss out!

Compete in teams of two, one as driver and the other as co-driver, to see which crew is the fastest. You’ll have to hit the gas to reach the top of The Brother Cup leader board, but pace notes will be provided, so you can really put your pedal to the metal like the rally pros!

The grand prize for the winning team will be stepping up to receive The Brother Cup on the official winners’ podium at the closing ceremony plus a two-day course with the country’s best rally driving tutors, Rally Drive New Zealand.

Whether you’re planning to watch the rally stages, or are simply a car enthusiast, make sure you come to the Viaduct Events Centre and take part. The Brother Cup may even find New Zealand’s next rally driving star - you!

  • Thurs 21 June: 4pm – media preview only
  • Fri 22 June: 10am – 8.30 pm
  • Sat 23 June: 10am – 8.30 pm
  • Sun 24 June: 10am – 12.00 pm. (Brother Cup final to be held at 2.00 pm.  Prize presentation on winners’ podium at 3pm).

 

Attendees of the Brother Rally New Zealand hub at Wynyard Quarter will also be able to have their photo taken with a New Zealand rally car as a free piece of memorobilia that can be taken home. The photos will be taken via an iPhone at the Brother Fan-Zone and printed wirelessly using Brother’s existing iPrint&Scan app.

To add to the excitement, Brother is updating its existing app for iOS and Android to include an augmented reality experience which is now live. Rally enthusiasts will have the opportunity to make their own personalised model rally cars by printing off templates from www.brother-rally.co.nz.

The templates can be scanned via the new mobile app to trigger a demo of the assembly instructions. At the end of the animation, a completed 3D car can be seen travelling on the virtual terrain within the track. Once assembled, the WRC logo on the car’s bonnet can be scanned to activate playback of Brother’s “paper car” TVC (launched yesterday) through their Smartphone.

“As we’re co-driving rally in New Zealand, we’re really excited to be able to offer stimulating and technology-focused activites for those rally fans out there who are looking to get the most out of their rally experience. Our brand is synonymous with innovation and this is why we have invested in the AR and simulator technologies to mark our sponsorship with rally, and we’re looking forward to be able to share these with everyone,” says Graham Walshe, executive chairman of Brother International (NZ) Limited.