The ebullient Irishman, an ex-WRC star who won the classic rally in 2024 and finished runner-up last year, was in commanding form. He powered his Ford Escort BDA to fastest classic time on every one of Saturday’s stages, earning an overnight lead of more than two and a-half minutes over 2025 winner Christchurch driver Dean Buist.
That advantage, and further time gained on yesterday morning’s first two stages, meant Meeke was able to maintain his lead despite time lost with the puncture.
Resuming their stage-winning ways, he and his co-driver, Englishman Stuart Loudon, ran out classic winners by 2min 38sec from Buist, and also finished seventh overall for the event.
Buist turned on a typically polished drive to second place, but there was classic drama aplenty behind.
Visiting stars and former classic winners Pasi Hagstrom (Finland) and Mads Ostberg (Norway) both fell victim to mechanical misfortunes. Ostberg, driving a Mazda RX-3, was first to exit on Saturday’s fifth stage, while running third in the classic event. He rejoin midway through yesterday, but completed only one more stage before nudging off the road.
Hagstrom, who was competing in a rally for the first time since winning in 2008, made a solid start, and had worked his way to third in the classic field by the end of Saturday. However, his Porsche 911 overheated before the start of yesterday’s stages, forcing his withdrawal.
With Hagstrom’s demise the battle for the third and final classic podium position became an all-Kiwi affair between three-times classic winner Derek Ayson, of Gore, and Hastings-based Ben Harding. Ayson, in his Opel Manta, eventually came out on top by almost 40sec over Harding in his Mazda RX-7.
Australian Stuart Reid and Waikato’s Brent Taylor ran home fifth and sixth among the classics in their Ford Escorts, followed by South Otago’s Paul Cross, who was seventh in the classic rally and won the 1301-1700cc class category.
Jamie Luff (Australia, Ford Escort), Glenn Brinkman (Australia, Datsun Bluebird), Ally Mackay (Christchurch, Ford Escort) and David Fahey (Christchurch, Ford Escort) completed the classic rally top-10. Steve Cox won the Classic 0-1300cc class after a spirited drive in his Toyota Starlet.
Meanwhile, victory in the classic 4WD category went to Thomas Paul (Cromwell) ahead of fellow Subaru Impreza drivers James Macdonald (Ohoka) and Deborah Kibble (Waimate).
Top classic 4WD seed Josh Keighley (Christchurch) had been battling hard with Thomas Paul for the category lead before being sidelined by an electrical issue early yesterday afternoon.
David Thomson
