Rally organisers excited as restrictions ease

The light is still Red but it is all go, go, go for the Otago Rally next month.

Rally organisers have moved quickly to make adjustments to the April 8-10 event following the Government’s announcement of an easing of Covid restrictions.

The popular Octagon start is back, and the rally will also be able to welcome back an unlimited number of spectators.

With outdoor gathering limits scrapped from tonight, and the end of vaccine pass use from April 4, the rally will hold the annual ceremonial start from 5pm on April 8 and will encourage spectators to watch the rally at the designated spots.

Event spokesman Roger Oakley said the easing of restrictions also meant vaccine passes would no longer be required by rally crews or officials.

"We’re excited to be able to bring back our Octagon start," Oakley said.

"It has been a popular feature of the rally calendar for many years, and allows Dunedin locals and visitors to get up close to the cars and meet the drivers."

"Unfortunately, planning has progressed too far for us to able to bring back the super stage, and our Town Hall prizegiving is still not possible due to the limits on numbers for indoor events, but we’re expecting these popular components of the rally will be back in 2023."

Oakley said organisers explored new ways to promote the rally under the assumption it would be held at the stricter Red settings.

The rally has partnered with motorsport "school" and media outlet DirtFish, the American-based group that has a global rally platform.

"This will allow spectators around the world to follow the Otago Rally, which we believe is a truly unique rally event.”

The Otago Rally is the first round of the national championship, and incorporates the popular classic and allcomers fields.

The field will also include two guest drivers, Olympic rowing great Hamish Bond and drifting star "Fanga" Dan Woolhouse.

Top seed is Hayden Paddon, New Zealand’s most successful rally driver, and he will be chased by the largest championship field seen in this country for many years.

The rally features 270km of closed-road competition over 16 stages of fast, mainly public roads.

Add a Comment