The 2023 Mainland Rally Championship (MRC) roars into action this weekend with the first of six rounds underway as part of the Otago Rally. The event has attracted a large number of entries with the MRC taking place on the first of the two-day event, in and around the city of Dunedin.
Round 2 sees the Lone Star Canterbury Rally in association with Joe’s Garage taking place over King’s Birthday weekend (4 June). Eight gravel stages totaling 130 km will take place on some great North Canterbury roads. The South Canterbury Rally (17 June) hosts the third round with the fourth at Rally Nelson (26 August). After a two-month gap, Rally Lawrence (4 November) will see the fifth round in dryer conditions before the final Round 6 at Rally Westland.
RDL Performance, Brita Safety, Palmside NZ and Winmax Brakes have put up cash prizes for each Class winner at the end of the Mainland Rally Championship season. $500, $250 and $100 for first, second and third respectively for each class as well as trophies for all classes and overall for both driver and co- driver. Vehicles are divided up into seven different classes according to engine size, year of manufacturer and two or four-wheel drive.
The opening round sees the return of Pat Norris (Toyota Yaris) to fight for the Class A (2WD 0-1300cc) title while Jared Parker (Toyota Levin) will be fighting in Class B (2WD 1301-1600cc) with Raimon Wilkinson (Toyota Trueno) and Kerry Sloan (Toyota Starlet).
Marcus van Klink (Mazda RX8) returns to Class C (2WD 1601cc and over) while the ‘fast’ Class D (4WD 1601cc and over) will see a fight between Josh Marston (Holden Barina AP4), Robbie Stokes (Ford Fiesta AP4), Mike Tall (Mitsubishi Mirage) and Dave Ollis (Subaru Impreza WRX).
Mike Ede (Subaru Legacy) returns to defend his Class E (Pre 1996 Classic 4WD) title while a real battle is likely to take place in the Classic Class F. Last year’s MRC overall winner, Deane Buist, has entered the Otago Rally in a Ford Escort and will be up against Jeff Judd (Ford Escort), 2022 Class F winner Tim McIver (Ford Escort), Ally Mackay (Ford Escort), Tony Gosling (Ford Escort) and John Silcock (Mazda RX7 GpB).
In the ever-popular Class H, James Macdonald (Subaru H6) returns to defend his class title against Nick Marston (Subaru H6), Tom Milliken (Subaru H6) and Amy Keighly (Subaru H6) with Tim Smith (Subaru H6) making a welcome return to rallying.
Eight Special Stages north of Dunedin on Saturday will see competitors facing some fast roads and rugged landscapes, highlighted by the incredible 29.9km Danseys Pass Special Stage 6 before the famous 8km Shag Valley Back Rd SS7 with its barren hills and the iconic jump near the stage end.
The final stage of the day sees a return to the traditional Saturday tarmac Super Stage around the streets of Dunedin after it was cancelled last year due to Covid restrictions.
Live timing for Rally Otago can be found through the link attached.
Words & Images: Supplied
