Josh Cooper of Cromwell, a competitor in the upcoming Barry Robinson Memorial Rally Southland, Round 3 of the NZ Rally Championship, started his motorsport journey in Invercargill.
He first competed in ClubSport events, winning several class titles and being named Junior Driver Of The Year multiple times. He started circuit racing at Teretonga Park, again with success in his class.
He then moved to Cromwell to work for the Paddon Racing Group and began competing in Eastern Southland Car Club events, becoming the 2024/2025 Eastern Southland Car Club Champion, after winning their Motorkhana Championship, Autocross Championship and his class title during that season.
Earlier this year, Josh contested the New Zealand ClubSport Championships in Ashburton, where he became New Zealand ClubSport Champion in his Toyota Corolla.
With that solid club background, Cooper tackled his first rally at Otago in April in a Ford Escort MKII owned by his father Gregg.
“It was definitely a huge learning curve. We have lots of things to change for Rally Southland.” Cooper’s partner, India Brown, was in the co-driver seat for Otago and will be again in Southland.
“She went really, really well,” says Josh.
“She took notes extremely well, just completely natural.” Unfortunately, the duo failed to finish Rally Otago after sustaining suspension damage in Stage 4.
Josh attributes ClubSport as a huge help in transitioning to rallying. ClubSport certainly helps with the tighter, twisty stuff,” he says.
Cooper regards the Barry Robinson Memorial Rally Southland as his home event, and he will be driving the Escort in the Gill Repairs Ltd Winton Class G for Classic 2wd cars of 1701cc & over.
“It will be great to compete in front of family and friends he says. It will be awesome. He co-drove for his father in the Wyndham Rally three or four years ago, so he knows some of the roads on the event. Dad has been helping heaps.”
His work for the Paddon Racing Group involves “lots of cool stuff,” including occasionally commuting across the Tasman to run cars at events. The company founder, Hayden Paddon, who is competing in several World Rally Championship events this year and is a former Production World Rally Champion, “gives us a lot of support,” says Josh.
Looking ahead to the event, Josh says, “I am very excited. I want to get as much seat time as I can. We are about to start a new car build and have a go at the H6 Cup in the future.”
All the cars and drivers in the Barry Robinson Memorial Rally Southland will be at Invercargill Central from 4pm on Friday, 17 July, where there will be an opportunity to get autographs and see the cars up close before the Ceremonial Start at 6pm.
The following day, the cars leave Wyndham at 8.30am, tackling seven high-speed Special Stages before the event concludes at the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill at 3.45pm.
Header Image: Matthew Whitten
