Ex-Rally Challenge champion Grant Blackberry is going to throw open an already competitive class of the New Zealand Rally Championship this season.
The Hawke’s Bay local has entered the Rally Challenge 4WD class and will line up at this week’s season-opening event – the Otago Rally – as the proverbial cat among the pigeons.
Defending champion Caleb Macdonald will be fast in his Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 8, while the likes of Ben Huband (Subaru Impreza), Andy Martin (Subaru Impreza) and Harri Silcock (Mitsubishi EVO 6) should all be in the mix on the fast Otago roads, but Blackberry’s pace in previous years indicates he would be an instant contender in the class.
“Not really sure how I will go up against Caleb and Ben – they both had pretty good pace last season, and they have been regularly competing,” Blackberry said.
“Silcock junior in the EVO 6 should go pretty well, too.
“I haven’t done a rally since Daybreaker 2023, so we might take a few stages to find our feet. Hopefully, they don’t get away from us too much at the start.
Blackberry joins defending champion Macdonald in hoping to become the first repeat winner of the class since its inception.
“It will be pretty cool to have two category 5 championships for sure and be the first to do it,” Blackberry said.
The Central Machine Hire Otago Rally begins with a ceremonial opening at the Octagon on Friday night before two days of competition over the gravel roads of the south.
Header Image: Geoff Ridder
