Phil Campbell hasn't had the best year rallying – but he's hoping to redeem himself on home turf at this Sunday's Tauranga Clubman's Rally, which he's won for the last two years.

Hosted by Motorsport Bay of Plenty, 50 cars in five classes will battle the gravel to record the fastest speed – and overall victory – on the 80km clover leaf-shape course based at TECT All Terrain Park.

Phil Campbell during the 2015 Tauranga Rally. Photo: Jason Byrne/alittlebitsideways.co.nz

'We're really looking forward to it – we've had a really tough season so far in the New Zealand Rally Championship. But it's always good to go to a local clubman's rally.”

Phil says it's a little less pressure 'and a chance to have some fun”.

'And a win here would really help our confidence going to the final round of the NZRC – the Coromandel's Goldrush Rally on August 20.”

In 2009 the clubman was the first rally Phil ever raced. He says the event definitely caters for those trying to get a taste for rallying.

'It's cheaper than doing a normal rally – and it's all run a little bit more relaxed so it's pretty welcoming to newcomers.”

This years, as part of the deal, Phil's offering his co-driver seat to Grant Waddicor from sponsor Guild & Spence Electrical.

And winning the title back-to-back Phil is confident – but admits in the pack of novices, there's some competitors 'that will be pretty hard to beat”.

'Matt and Nicole Summerfield, from the South Island, will be. They've done all of the NZRC rallying we've done during the last two years.

'We've probably got an advantage in it's our home event and we know the roads – but they'll be fast.

'Then there's some other guys behind them who can definitely be a threat,” says Phil.

'It's only takes a small mistake or little mechanical problem and everything can change pretty fast.”

MBOP president Geoff Andrews says the event is targeted at novice rally drivers. 'We limit entries to 50 and we were sold out within four days – we even have waiting list of drivers who'd like to take part.”

Geoff says the clubman's rally is MBOP's biggest event of the year. 'I think the roads are very good – it's a very tight format in that servicing is all done from TECT park.

'And it's very, very good value for money – that always matters to competitors.”

Geoff says the course – which includes some rally roads at TECT Park, plus forestry and public roads nearby is technical but also has open stages. 'It's almost all on gravel; and we buddy novice cars up with another car with a bit of experience.”

Cars start at one-minute intervals and fastest time overall is the winner. Geoff, who has entered for the last seven years, says the attraction is the adrenalin rush of rallying. 'And it's a personal challenge – how quickly can I go.”

Geoff says the first five cars are good to watch. 'Phil [Campbell] is last year's winner so keep an eye on him and often the guys further back are good to watch as they aren't as good as the guys at the front.

'They often don't have the level of control so there's more thrills and spills.”

Geoff says good spectator viewing exists at the Te Matai Motorsport Inc Spectator Stage at TECT All Terrain Park. Tauranga Clubman's Rally is on July 17. Racing starts 9am. For other prime spectator viewing times and locations, see www.mbop.org.nz