The top speed in this month’s Rally of Otago will have a new co-driver calling the pacenotes over the two days of action on April 10 and 11.

Richard Mason, the winner of the event in 2007 and 2008, usually has his wife, Sara Mason, sitting beside him in their Subaru Impreza WRX STI.

But following the recent birth of their first son, Khalid, Mason will
have former co-driver, Hamish Fenemore, in the passenger’s seat.

Khalid was born on March 16, and according to proud mum Sara, the labour
was “straightforward and smoother than your average rally”.

Weighing 3.3kg when born, the young Mason has the genes to be a
motorsport star of the future.

However, dad Richard has a third Rally of Otago victory in his sights
first.

Sara will return to the co-driver’s seat for the World Rally
Championship qualifying Rally of New Zealand in May.

The Otago Rally route will include some of the event’s most popular
stages, including Kuri Bush, Whare Flat, Waipori Gorge and the tarmac
super special stage around the streets of Dunedin.

For the first time since 2001, the famous Danseys Pass – a classic
sub-Alpine road that was once used in the Rally of New Zealand – will
also be included in the route.