The return of the Hanmer Memorial Rally 2025 to the Mainland Rally Championship has been welcomed by a fantastic entry for the final round of the series.
The one-day event this Saturday, 27 September 2025, will decide both overall and Class titles for the season.
Heading into the rally with a maximum of 30 points on offer, Caleb MacDonald has a slim three-point lead over Robbie Stokes (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo), with Deane Buist (Subaru Impreza) and Josh Marston (Holden Barina AP4) also in mathematical contention.
However, MacDonald has opted not to enter with his focus on the upcoming NZ Rally Championship round in two weeks’ time.
With MacDonald’s no-show, it opens the way for Stokes to grab the title to be fought over eight Special Stages. He has a nice 17-point buffer over incumbent champion Deane Buist, with Marston a further five points back.
Marston won the last running of the event in 2018, winning seven of the eight completed stages. This year, the rally will again be run in the Hanmer Forest Estate, in North Canterbury, with approximately 77 km over seven Special Stages plus approximately 47 km of Touring.
All Special Stages are on good gravel roads with Stage Notes not permitted for this event.
Seven separate Class titles will be confirmed by Saturday evening, with a maximum of 20 points available for first home in each Class. Although Josh Silcock/Ben Leech (Toyota Starlet) have effectively won Class A (2WD 0-1300cc), they will still line up for the final round along with rival Mike Matheson (Toyota Vitz), who should consolidate second in Class.
It’s a similar situation in In Class B (2WD 1601cc and over) with Ian Warren/Brody Cattermole (Nissan Pulsar) with an unbeatable 34-point lead over second-placed Thomas Paul/Bridget Airey (Honda Civic). Neither of the top two has entered the Hanmer Rally, which gives the opportunity for James McIver (Ford Escort Mk2) to move into second in Class.
Having wrapped up the Class C (2WD 1601cc and over) title, Buist will compete in the final round in a Class D Subaru Impreza. Currently, third in Class C is Andrew Sim (Ford Escort Mk2), who has the opportunity to move up into second place.
With MacDonald not on the start line, this hands the Class D title to Stokes, who has a 25-point lead over Marston.
With rival Nathan Fraser having not entered, Hayden Shakespeare (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3), who sits four points behind, should win the Class E (4WD Classic) title.
The closest Class battle over the 2025 season has been in Class F (Classic 2WD) with just two points separating the top two.
With second-place Paul Cross (Toyota Corolla AE86) not having entered, this effectively hands the title to Stephen Gill (Ford Escort Mk2), while the fight will be between Pat Norris (Toyota Corolla) and Ally Mackay (Ford Escort Mk1) for third.
Tim Smith/Ben Trevelyan (Subaru Impreza) continue to lead Class H6 with an eight-point lead over second-place Kevin Laird.
Details, including spectator points, can be found at autosport.org.nz. The first car leaves from Rally HQ at the Hanmer Springs Gateway Lodge, 35 Hanmer Springs Rd, at approximately 10:15am, finishing 4:00pm at the final control, which is also situated at the Hanmer Springs Gateway Lodge. The Service Park is on Jollies Pass Road.
The 2025 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.
Header Image: Terry Marshall
