Andrew started racing dirt track cars at Meremere Dirt Tack Club aged 15 and competed in his first hill climb aged 17. He has been involved in National Championship rallying since 1995, but only committed to full seasons four times in the last 20 years. He has finished on the podium three times. Andrew was a National Hill climb champion in 2002; has competed in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship and has been to Pikes Peak International Hill Climb twice – narrowly missing victory there in 2005 due to a puncture. He has also raced off-roaders, offshore power boats, speedway, endurance racing and the Hump 100 Camel Race. Andrew will be competing in the 2017 NZ Rally Championship for the final time.

Andrew Hawkeswood - 2016 Mazda 2 AP4

Andrew started racing dirt track cars at Meremere Dirt Tack Club aged 15 and competed in his first hill climb aged 17. He has been involved in National Championship rallying since 1995, but only committed to full seasons four times in the last 20 years. He has finished on the podium three times. Andrew was a National Hill climb champion in 2002; has competed in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship and has been to Pikes Peak International Hill Climb twice – narrowly missing victory there in 2005 due to a puncture. He has also raced off-roaders, offshore power boats, speedway, endurance racing and the Hump 100 Camel Race. Andrew will be competing in the 2017 NZ Rally Championship for the final time.

2016 Mazda 2 AP4:

This is the first of the new generation AP4 rally cars being built by Force Motorsport for the NZ Rally Championship (NZRC) and there are now being exported to Australia and China. There will be seven cars in the 2017 NZRC using the same platform and components including the Hyundai I20 that Hayden Paddon will use at Otago and the Holden Barina that Greg Murphy will drive. Andrew will be using the first of the 1600cc turbo Skyactiv engines designed for the Mazda AP4 rally cars at the Leadfoot Festival. There are currently two more Mazda 2 AP4 cars being built – both with the new 1600 turbo Skyactiv engine.