Joe ‘Smokin Joe’ McAndrew’s Group A Subaru Legacy has been voted as the New Zealand Rally Championships most iconic car.
16 cars spanning three decades were put to fans each day over the last fortnight in a knockout voting system until the final two remained.
At the conclusion of voting it was McAndrew’s Group A Legacy that pipped Neil Allport’s 1986 Mainfreight Mazda RX7 with 58% of the final tally.
McAndrew purchased the Legacy at the conclusion of the 1993 season from the Prodrive Customer Department.
Then, having acquired backing from Shell Oil to fund his Rally campaign, McAndrew would power the Legacy to NZ titles in 1994 and 1996.
The car was adored for its impressive stint in the 1995 Rally of Canberra where McAndrew and co-driver Bob Haldane thrilled Australian fans by showcasing their sterling pace early on. Unfortunately, a front wheel bearing failed while the duo were leading the Rally.
Other cars to have featured in the tournament includes Possum Bourne’s 1991 Group A Subaru Legacy, Rod Millens RX3 and Hayden Paddon’s Hyundai i20 AP4
The 2020 New Zealand Rally Championships were cancelled earlier in the year amid Covid-19 travel restrictions.
However, Club rallies in the South Island are set to resume as early as June with plans afoot to have an unofficial three-round NZ Rally Championship contested in the latter half of the year.
