Festivities to kick-start the VINZ Coromandel Gold Rush Rally of NZ start today with a Street Party unfolding in Whitianga this afternoon to rev up the town for inaugural event.

The rally starts tomorrow, with more than 65 rally cars, with 520 people in support crews, racing around the peninsula roads and hundreds of fans expected to capture the action.

Tauranga driver Phil Campbell is aiming to build on his momentum on Coromandel roads this weekend. Photo by Jason Byrne www.alittlebitsideways.co.nz

Thames-Coromandel District Council with the Mercury Bay Business Association is hosting this afternoon's Street Party, which will see Blacksmith Lane – from the intersection with Albert St and finishing 250m from Albert St – closed from 3pm-8pm.

The rally's ceremonial start begins 5pm on Blacksmith Lane, with Rally NZ organising cars and competitors to park, providing everyone the opportunity to get up close and personal with the rally cars and attend signing sessions with the stars.

A host of other road closures will happen during Saturday, when rally drivers hit the peninsula roads to cover 135km in nine special stages, in the battle to earn national series points.

The rally, based in Whitianga, is round five of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, will also be nationally televised with two TV3 production crews totalling more than 200 people stationed around the event.

Tauranga driver Phil Campbel, who is ranked seventh in the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championships 4WD series, says all competitiors will have chances in the peninsula race, with it being an inaguural event.

'It can definitely be an advantage for some of the other drivers, when they've competed in a rally quite a few times and know the roads well, so being the first time there won't be any of that.”

Mount Maunganui driver Dave Holder is in third place in the series and is also aiming to leave his mark this weekend.

'We've been taking a pretty consistent approach all year, but we're going to give it heaps and see where it gets us,” says Dave.

Other road closures to take note of:

Blacksmith Lane, starting at the intersection with Albert St and finishing 250m from Albert St. Period of closure: 3pm-8pm on August 22.

Tapu-Coroglen Rd, starting at 3.9km from State Highway 25 (Tapu end) and finishing at SH25 (Coroglen end). Period of closure: 7.50am-3.50pm on August 23.

The 309 Rd, starting at 1.3km from SH25 (Coromandel end), and finishing at 4.5km from SH 25 (Coromandel end). Period of closure: 6.30am-9.30am on August 23.

The 309 Rd, starting at 4km from SH25 (Coromandel end), and finishing at 21km from SH25 (Coromandel end). Period of closure: 6.30am-4pm on August23 Joan Gaskell Drive, starting at SH25, and finishing 1.2km from SH25. Period of closure: 1pm-6pm on August 23.

During the proposed periods of closure the following provision will be made for ordinary vehicular traffic, which would otherwise use the roads:

Tapu-Coroglen Rd and the 309 Rd: Detour via SH25 or SH5A (Kopu-Hikuai)

Joan Gaskell Drive: Detour via SH25, Buffalo Beach Rd and Albert St to enter/exit Whitianga.

For more information, click here.