Jack Stokes and Hayden Graves (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) carry a slender one-point lead heading into the fourth round of the 2026 Mainland Rally Championship (MRC) this Saturday, 18 July 2026. The series heads to Southland for the Barry Robinson Memorial Rally Southland organised by the Eastern Southland Car Club with 160 kilometres of Special Stages and 180km of Touring, which also doubles as a round in the NZ Rally Championship (NZRC).
“It’s a new rally for me, my first time on these roads which will be a new challenge but excited for it,” commented Stokes (main photo). “Basically, the car has been faultless this season with no issues so far.
“Obviously the NZRC is our main focus but ties into the Mainland Series as well. If we do well, we should also be in a position to go for the Mainland title.”
Having missed the opening round, the pairing has won the last two events in the series, Rally Otago and Canterbury, and have 60-points while Deane Buist and Karl Celeste (Ford Escort Mk2) who have finished consistently across all three rallies, sit on 59-points. Also in contention are Thomas Paul/Bridget Airey (Subaru Impreza H6) on 55 and Ari Pettigrew/Jack Norris (Porsche 911) on 49-points.
Seven separate MRC Class titles for both drivers and co-drivers are being contested across six rounds this year.
In Class A (2WD 0-1300cc), Mike Matheson/Kevin Brockie (Toyota Vitz) are currently equal on 36-points with Jak Elliott/Blair Brosnan (Toyota Echo). While the latter have not entered this weekend’s event, Round 1 winners Maurite Balzarini/ Mauro Balzarini (Toyota Starlet) will look to move up from third.
Josh Silcock (Ford Fiesta R2) has a ten-point lead in Class B (2WD 1301-1600cc) over Pat Morris (Toyota Corolla AE86). However, Rory Lawn/Matt Sayers (Toyota Starlet) are the ones to watch after finishing first in Class at Rally Canterbury and are now just 14-points off the lead.
Ari Pettigrew/Jack Norris in their new Porsche 911 have been spectacular this season winning Class C (2WD 1600cc and over) in the last two rounds. With second placed Andrew Sim not entered, Deane Buist (Ford Escort Mk2) should retain the Class lead currently with a 12-point margin back to Pettigrew in third place.
Jack Stokes is just two-points off the lead in Class D (4WD), also having not entered the opening Westland Rally round in March. This is to the advantage of Class leaders Harri Silcock/Mark Greenwood (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6) who have been consistent finishers in all three rallies held this season. Sean Haggarty/Matt Jones (Suzuki Swift Subki) hold third just four-points off the lead.
Nigel King (Mitsubishi Lancer) leads Class E (Pre 2000 4WD). In Class H (Subaru H6) Thomas Paul has a healthy 22-point lead over Josh Keighley with James McIver, Kevin Laird and Tom Milliken also entered in Saturday’s event.
Friday will see all cars on display at Invercargill Central from 4pm with a ceremonial start at 6pm.
The rally gets underway from the township of Wyndham at 8:30am tackling seven high speed Special Stages with servicing at Wyndham and Tokanui before the event concludes at the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill at 3.45pm.
The 2026 Mainland Rally Championship has the support of RDL Performance, Brita Safety Ltd, Palmside NZ Ltd, Christchurch Building and Decorating Ltd, Thomson Rust and Repair Services Ltd, Rally Drive NZ.
Overall Points after 3/6 rounds (Top 15)
1/ Jack Stokes 60
2/ Deane Buist 59
3/ Thomas Paul 55
4/ Ari Pettigrew 49
5/ Harri Silcock 46
6/ Andrew Sim 39
7/ Josh Silcock 36
8= Sean Haggarty 35
8= Caleb MacDonald 35
8= Josh Keighley 35
11/ Dylan Thomson 32
12= Robbie Stokes 28
12= James McIver 28
14= Tim McIver 27
14= James Macdonald 27
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