The winners of the inaugural Barry Robinson Memorial Rally in 2023, the father-and-son combination of Andrew and Hayden Graves from Gore, return this year as top seeds in the rally scheduled for Saturday, 2 August.
They also arrive at the event as the current New Zealand Rally Challenge Champion driver and co-driver, respectively.
Andrew is one of the South’s top drivers, having won numerous rallies in a much older car than many of his rivals have at their disposal, a Mitsubishi Evo 3. He has also had plenty of success as a co-driver.
As a co-driver, Andrew has spent several seasons alongside Cantabrian Josh Marston in the New Zealand Rally Championship.
Last season, Marston did not contest the championship, which gave Andrew the opportunity to team up with Hayden, who had previously co-driven locally with his dad, and chase the NZ Rally Challenge title, a stepping stone to the top level of championship rallying in New Zealand.
“We did some local rallies early on and did okay, so while the budget was tight, with the help of some new and existing sponsors, we were able to continue on and finish on top,” says Andrew.
“Winning that championship was definitely a highlight.
“A lifelong box to tick as was winning the Barry Robinson Rally in 2023. To do it with my son alongside was awesome.”
The championship was held across six rounds from Southland to Whangarei, with Andrew becoming the driver’s champion and Hayden the co-driver’s champion.
This year, with Marston back in the New Zealand Championship, Andrew is back in the co-driver seat with him at national events, while Stokes Motorsport has picked up Hayden and will sit alongside Jack Stokes in the championship.
Of Hayden’s co-driving, Andrew says, “he has gone from strength to strength. He loves it”
While they both have those co-driving obligations in the New Zealand Championship, they will be contesting a small number of local events together this year, Andrew returning to the wheel of the EVO 3 with Hayden alongside, and Wyndham, where they were so successful in 2023, is one of those events.
“It is great to have him on board again,” says Andrew.
The duo missed Wyndham last season as they chased the Rally Challenge Championship, but instead lent a helping hand as part of a taping crew on the Special Stages, which Andrew says was them “putting a bit back.”
Putting a bit back also extends to sponsoring the Novice Driver and Co-driver prizes in the event. Through his business, Andrew supports prizes for the top two novice drivers and top two novice co-drivers who have done less than four rallies.
As they prepare for Wyndham this year, Andrew says, “We have no expectations. There are a lot of fast guys these days, Caleb Macdonald, Carter Strang and others.
“As long as the car holds together, we will be doing our best. We are grateful for our amazing sponsors, family, and friends who allow us to do this.”
While Andrew drives and Hayden is his co-driver, Andrew says, “One day he will take over. He is no slug behind the wheel, and I will have to eventually relinquish the reins.”
That is no surprise, as Andrew says, in everything he does, he is 100% in.
He has also represented Southland in rugby at age-group level, where he has excelled as a wing/fullback. He is good,” says Andrew.
The Barry Robinson Memorial Wyndham Rally will be centred on the township of Wyndham, 45 kilometres east of Invercargill and 25km south of Gore.
It will start at the Three Rivers Hotel in Redan Street, Wyndham at 9.00 am on Saturday, 2 August, from where competitors will tackle six Special Stages before the event ends back at the Three Rivers Hotel in Wyndham with the first car due at 3.30 pm.
Header Image: Graeme Fraser
