Reigning New Zealand Rally Championship champion Ben Hunt knows he will have his work cut out trying to defend his crown when the season begins this week.
Hunt [Skoda Fabia Rally 2] won a third national title in 2024 and returns as the favourite to repeat in 2025. However, he will have plenty of competitors breathing down his neck over the six-round championship.
Cantabrian Robbie Stokes [Stokes Motorsport Skoda Fabia Rally 2] will find himself in the same machinery as Hunt and has already proven to be very fast, while Dunedin’s Emma Gilmour [Citroen C3] enjoyed a brilliant finish to the 2024 championship that gives her encouragement she can take it to Hunt this year.
Jack Hawkeswood won at Otago last year and looms as a genuine threat in his Force Motorsport Toyota GR Yaris.
Throw in the return of the consistently quick Josh Marston [RDL Holden Barina] and the promotion of youngster Jack Stokes [Stokes Motorsport Ford Fiesta AP4] into the top class. Hunt will have a very competitive chasing pack.
“I know it won’t be easy starting the year as the defending champion, and everyone will be out to beat me,” Hunt said.
“But Tony [co-driver Tony Rawstorn] and I will just get out there and do our thing and enjoy ourselves. I love driving the car, and it will be great to get back on those awesome Otago roads.”
Hunt has traditionally taken the first day at Otago to find his best form. Last year, he fell behind youngsters Robbie Stokes and Jack Hawkeswood on the first day before reeling them in on Sunday.
“We don’t usually do as much as many of our rivals leading into the start of the season, so it might take me a bit of time to get back into it,” Hunt said.
“Having said that, we have done a little bit more this year, so hopefully that will help us get onto the pace quickly.”
The Otago Rally begins with a ceremonial start in the Octagon on Friday night, followed by two days of intense competition on Saturday and Sunday.
Header Image: Jessica Barnes / Blissful Photography
