With one month to go until the 40th running of the Otago Rally in New Zealand, this year’s entry list looks like seeing an increasing number of Australian competitors crossing the Tasman to take part in this iconic event.
Victorian competitor, Grant Walker, will contest the Otago stages driving an Escort RS 1800 BDG built and entered by race and rally parts supplier Palmside.
Sitting alongside Walker this year will be fellow Victorian, Tracey Dewhurst, in her first Otago Rally. Walker’s regular co-driver, Correne Seabrook, unfortunately had to pull out of the event due to work commitments back in Australia.
Dewhurst explains: "Grant and I have intended for years to do an event together so when I got the call to fill in for Correne, it seemed a perfect rally for this to happen and I'm really looking forward to it.”
Walker has contested the event twice before, finishing in the top 10 in the Classics class both times.
There's set to be plenty of Australian support with Aussie spectators, service crews and competitors headed for Dunedin in April.
These include Aussie Max Roberts, who will be returning with his RS1800, along with Stewart Reid and Mark Stacey, also driving a RS1800, and Ben Barker and Damien Long in their BMW 320i.
Darryn Snooks (co-driven by Michael Forshaw) will compete in a Toyota Corolla, Stuart Warren and brother Alan Warren will drive an Escort RS2000, and sitting alongside Ed Mulligan will be Catriona Kelly in a BMW 325i.
Fans will also be treated to special guest driver and former Ford, Peugeot and Subaru factory driver, Markko Martin, competing with Belgian co-driver Stephane Prevot in a Ford Escort RS1800.
Crews will head to Dunedin, located in New Zealand's picturesque South Island, with stages for the 40th running of the Otago Rally held in the surrounding area around its rally base. To celebrate the special anniversary year, stage names are in honour of some of the drivers who have contested the Otago Classic Rally over the past 15 years.
The Rally will be held from April 8 to 10.
SUBSCRIBE BELOW TO READ THE FULL STORY
