Now confined to a wheelchair, we spoke to Craig about his life sitting beside the legendary Possum, about the trip to Fiji that nearly ended his life, owning Possum’s Impreza World Rally Car, and getting the WRC back to New Zealand.
Originally published November 2, 2020.
RSM: You first came to prominence co-driving for Neil Allport at Rally NZ in 1995. What are your memories of that event and your first 'works' ride?
Craig Vincent: Taking out the gate post in stage 1 in front of all New Zealand, as Neil sat in the left seat for the first time made that fundamental mistake! Being a works car, the Escort had every spare we needed to bypass the oiler cooler and patch the right corner up to continue on.Â
Unfortunately, that mistake seemed to flow through to each morning as we went off on the first stage each day. I then felt the pressure from a WRC manager as we were required to get the car home for points, as Bruno Thiry had crashed.Â
It all came good and we finished behind Possum in 6th to cap off an amazing experience.