The date for the 2020 Otago Rally has been confirmed, with the event to run a week earlier than in past years.

To be held from April 3 to 5, the Otago Rally will be the opening round of the New Zealand Rally Championship, and a round of the FIA's Asia Pacific Rally Championship (Pacific Cup).

Planning for the rally is still in the early stages, but once again a two-day, all daylight format will be employed, with around 280km of special stages.

Up to 90% of the route will be on fast, public roads, with the ...    more...

New Zealand rally star Hayden Paddon returns to the top level of world rallying with the announcement that he will drive the third M-Sport Fiesta WRC car at Rally Finland in August.

With John Kennard returning as his co-driver, Paddon is understandably delighted to have this opportunity to contest one of his favourite FIA World Rally Championship events, particularly as the deal comes with the full support of his long-term commercial partner, Hyundai New Zealand.

“Obviously I’m very excited to be back in the WRC,” says Paddon.

“It ...    more...

Christchurch’s Marcus van Klink has recorded his fourth win on the trot after another strong performance at the Stadium Finance South Canterbury Rally, the fourth round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship.

Seeded 13th for the event, van Klink and cars around him were forced to start the opening stage through the Waimate forest prior to sunrise while some of his rivals further back had the benefit of sunlight. Despite this, he came through the stage third fastest of the two-wheel drive cars.

By the time the second stage ...    more...

hristchurch’s Dylan Thomson has moved into third place in the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship after round four, the Stadium Finance Rally South Canterbury, held over the weekend.

In only his first season behind the wheel of a four-wheel drive car, Thomson and co-driver Amy Hudson showed another step up in speed on one of the fastest events on the calendar to eventually come home in fourth place, having battled for a podium spot across most of the day.

Thomson started the day off well, including a third fastest stage ...    more...

Toyota Levin crew Andy Gillies and Nathan Pilcher survived their most challenging rally together so far in this year's Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship to take another class podium result.

A bizarre electrical glitch and a broken exhaust added to the already challenging conditions and roads of the South Canterbury Rally last weekend, but the dup came through their own dramas to secure third place in Category 5B. They have extended their points lead too, though with only their three best scores counting towards their final championship result, they need to keep the pressure ...    more...

Queenstown’s Mike Sheehan has left the fourth round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, the Stadium Finance South Canterbury Rally, gutted after breaking his gear lever saw him ruled out of contention.

Sheehan and co-driver Glenn Goldring came to the event confident in the knowledge that another strong finish would be a large step towards a national championship title. The pair powered through the opening stage second in their class, having beaten several of their four-wheel drive competitors in the two-wheel drive Truck Moves Ford Fiesta R2.

Everything was ...    more...