One of the event organisers, Russell Quin, said Saturday’s conditions were the wettest and muddiest he could recall in the 20 years he had been involved with the Land Rover Owners Club Otago rally.
One onlooker termed the slippery mud-bath conditions "pigs’ heaven".
"It was pretty tough, but it was a great day," Mr Quin added.
"It makes it harder to get through what they’re trying to achieve.
"But it’s what these people do.
"It was very successful.
"They all thought it was good," he said.
Fifteen obstacles had initially been planned but this was cut to 10 as a safety precaution, given the conditions, which made it hard even to reach some of the planned obstacles.
The prospect of wet weather meant only 18 four-wheel-drive vehicles took part, down from 30 last year, and in the tough conditions, only six contestants completed the whole event.
Others retired with a range of problems, including electrical issues.
Contestant Mike McCarthy’s 4WD seemed almost buried in one muddy water hazard, but he survived, and won the winching section.
Driver Alistair Robbie and co-driver Barry Dodd also encountered a lot of mud, a wave of muddy water pouring out when Mr Robbie opened his door, at one stage.
Mechanical problems meant he had to eventually pull out.
