Catlins Coast Rally Returns In August

The hugely popular Catlins Coast Rally returns next month with the event scheduled to take place onSaturday 6 August.

The event, which always draws a quality entry, is Round 4 of the Clearwater Painting Mainland Rally Championship and also part of the Eastern Southland Car Club’s Rally Championship. Several changes have been made to the Special Stages this year although many popular roads remain. All up competitors will tackle 122 kilometres of high speed competitive stages linked together by 102 kilometres of Touring Stages.

The 2016 rally is scheduled to depart from Owaka Motors in Campbell Street, Owaka at 10am on 6 August. The rally will be based in Owaka this year with servicing of the rally cars taking place in the township between stages. Six Special Stages await competitors this year, Puaho, Tawanui, Cannibal Bay, Romahapa, Moats Saddle and Warnock before the rally finishes back in Owaka at approximately 3.30pm.

Dean Bond/Alison Glover on their way to victory in the 2015 Catlins Coast Rally. Photo: Euan Cameron

Last year’s event was won by Dean Bond/Alison Glover of Balclutha in Bond’s Mitsubishi EVO 6.5. It was Bond’s third Catlins Rally win after he had also taken victory in 2009 and 2011. Deane Buist of Christchurch was second in his Ford Escort with Gore driver Derek Ayson third.

The winner will take home the highly sought after Darryl Robinson Memorial Trophy while the first South Otago crew will earn the Kerry O’Donohue Memorial Trophy and the leading Otago Sports Car Club crew the Glen Shirlaw Memorial Trophy.

Support for the 2016 Catlins Coast Rally comes from Rosebank Lodge Balclutha, Fulton Hogan, Owaka Motors, Yuasa Batteries, AG & Auto Direct and Monit Rally.