Off we go to Otago

| Photographer Credit: Terry Marshall/Euan Cameron Photography

If there’s one thing that the global pandemic has done, it’s reinvigorated competitors’ interest in the New Zealand Rally Championship, with the first event just two weeks away.

Forty-nine entries have been received for the opening round of the series, which forms part of the record 114-car field in the popular Otago Rally.

We’ve said it before, but the entry list reads like a who’s who of current New Zealand rallying.

The first nine seeded entries are all drivers in different makes of car, and 11 of the first 12 entries are in either international spec R5 cars, or the locally produced AP4 variants that are becoming more and more popular.

It’s abundantly clear from the outset that Hayden Paddon (Main photo) will start as the event and season favourite in his Hyundai i20 AP, and all being equal, Paddon should win by the length of the Suez Canal (not the width ….).

But behind him, there’ll be all hell to play for as former champion Ben Hunt does his best to keep a brace of young (and not so young) wannabes behind him.

If Paddon should falter, then Hunt is the man to beat in his Subaru WRX. A multiple winner of the NZRC, Hunt, like everyone, will be refreshed and champing at the bit.

Matt Summerfiled/Nicole Summerfield Mitsi Mirage AP4

There are a host of other challengers though, and in seeded order, they are Raana Horan (Skoda R5), Josh Marston (Holden AP4), Dylan Turner (Audi AP4), home girl Emma Gilmour (Suzuki AP4), and Matt Summerfield (Mitsubishi AP4).

Then there are the young guns, the sons of guns, and the drivers most likely seen as the future of New Zealand rallying.

Jack Hawkeswood now has a couple of seasons under his belt in the four-wheel drive Mazda 2 AP4, while Robbie Stokes showed incredible speed during a shortened 2020 campaign in a Ford Fiesta AP4.

Jack Hawkeswood – Photo: Geoff Ridder

Both their fathers – Andrew Hawkeswood and Brian Stokes – are former champions, and there’s every reason to believe that Jack and Robbie could join them on the honour board over the next few seasons.

Regan Ross is another to watch out for. A former winner of the Otago Classic Rally, he knows the rally very well, and his move from a BDA Escort to a Fiesta R5 has created lots of interest.

The more Ross gets to know the car, the faster he is getting, and he could spring a real surprise.

Plenty of other well known names will keep the spectators entertained too.

Marcus van Klink – Rally Otago in 2019

Todd Bawden, Bruce Herbert, Ray Wilson and Brian Green are all NZRC veterans with more experience than you can poke a stick at, while rock throwers like Marcus van Klink (Mazda RX8) and Ari Pettigrew (BMW) will keep fans ducking for cover.

All in all, it promises to be an incredible start to the 2021 NZRC, and it’s only two weeks away.

The Otago Rally is again based out of Dunedin and will run from April 16-18.

Peter has been the editor of RallySport Magazine since its inception in 1989, in both printed and online form. He is a long-time competitor, event organiser and official, as well as working in the media.

http://rallysportmag.com

Related Stories

Join in the conversation!


Comments

Leave a Reply

1 comment
  1. Anonymous

    […] Source: talkmotorsport.co.nz […]