Parked up in Wanaka last night for a one-hour service, Mrs Stokes said it was her fourth event calling the pace notes for her husband, who won the Silver Fern in 2006, its first year.
She was ''loving it'' and said it was ''just brilliant to be in the car'' after years of supporting from the sidelines.
The Stokes' newly rebuilt Ford Escort RS1800 had been giving them ''all sorts of dramas'' in between blazing out stages wins yesterday, when it was behaving, Mr Stokes said.
Otago drivers were going well in the Historic Trophy section yesterday with Dunedin's Allan Dippie and Paul Coghill setting a string of top-three times in a Porsche 911, while Mosgiel father and son Ian Begg and Jeremy Begg ended the day 10th overall.
Meanwhile, in the Challenge section Dunedin duo Brodie Anderson and Rob McConachie are second.
The rally cars complete five laps at Highlands Motorsport Park today from 2pm and finish in Queenstown's Beach St from 3.15pm.
