News

TER World Series opener Otago Rally entries soar

26.02.2023

Great names and international competitors to star in Dunedin

 

The organisers of the new-for-2023 TER World Series opening round, the 2023 Winmax Brake Pads Otago Rally scheduled on 1st and 2nd April, have announced some of the first entries received for the event. 

 

The 9-time event winner, TER Ambassador, 2022 TER – Tour European Rally, Asia-Pacific and New Zealand Champion, Hyundai New Zealand driver Hayden Paddon will be aiming for a tenth, fifth consecutive, victory in the Dunedin-based event.

 

New Zealand Rally Championship contenders include Raana Horan and Todd Bowden in new Rally2 cars. Local star Emma Gilmour will sample the Citroën C3 Rally2 used by Armin Kremer in last year’s Rally New Zealand. 

 

Foreign competitors are also expected to return after some years: Finland, Australia, New Caledonia, Japan, Philippines and Vanuatu drivers feature on the entry list.

 

A former WRC Works driver, finn Mikko Hirvonen will be the one to look out for in the ENEOS International Classic Rally of Otago, against past event winner Deane Buist, back behind the wheel of a Ford Escort RS1800 for the first time since 2017.

 

“We’ve received 58 confirmed entries so far with two weeks to go, after we received 130 intentions to enter” event manager Norman Oakley said. “All in all, I think we’ll end up similar to our 2019 numbers with around 130 starters.

 

The 2023 Otago Rally will kick off with a ceremonial start in Dunedin’s Octagon on Friday, March 31st, followed by two days of competition including over 250 kms of special stages.