Catlins Rally celebrates 10 years

The Catlins Coast Rally, one of the most popular motorsport events in the South Island and one of the biggest events in the Catlins area in South Otago each year, will take place on Saturday 24 July.

This years rally, which is the tenth anniversary for this popular event, will feature some new challenges for competitors with a revised route. However many popular, traditional stages remain. Due to a number of factors the rally will take place two weeks earlier than usual this year with a July date as opposed to its normal position in early August.

However that wil not detract from this superb event which is a favourite with many of the country's best rally drivers. Once again this year the rally will begin from Owaka Motors premises in Campbell Street, Owaka at 9am on the day. Ahead of the competitors will be eight high speed Special Stages. New this year are stages such as Lochindorb, Purakauiti and White Flat while well known stages such as Tawanui, Catlins Valley, Cannibal Bay, Barrata Creek plus the Super Special Stage introduced for the first time last year at Balclutha's Riverside Reserve remain.

The Super Special Stage will be the last of the rally and will provide a fantastic venue for spectators to watch the last few kilometres of action.

An extensive map and guide to the rally will be published in one of the local newspapers, The Ensign, on Wednesday 21 July.

Last year local Balcutha driver Dean Bond and co-driver Craig Barclay, took victory by 2.2 seconds over Alexandra based Andrew Hawkeswood and Simon Johnstone in their Audi Quattro replica. Kaikoura pairing Regan and Nigel Ross were third in their Mitsubishi EVO 9. Bond put in a storming drive to take the win and the close margin of his victory meant the result was in doubt until the finish. Bond's victory earned him the Darryl Robinson Memorial Trophy and also ensured him of 2009 Laird Motorsport Southern Rally Series title.

Loyal supporters, the Rosebank Lodge in Balclutha, MWH, Southroads, Allied Petroleum Owaka Motors, the Clutha Licensing Trust and Century Batteries all return with all important sponsorship to allow the event to take place again.

The rally will be Round 3 of the Mainland Rally Series and Round 2 of the Laird Motorsport Southern Rally Series which is fought out by drivers and co-drivers with a residential address in Southland, Eastern Southland or Otago.

Entries are already flowing in and another topline field is expected once again on 24 July.