The date for the 2009 Rally of Otago has been confirmed as May 16 and
17, with the event running as round two of the New Zealand Rally
Championship.

The popular event, which is based in Dunedin in the South Island, will again include the Dunlop International Classic Rally of Otago.

The May 16 and 17 date is a week later than that of the 2008 rally.

Initial planning is well underway with the route likely to feature a mixture of the event’s most popular stages, along with new configurations of existing stages that will help keep the event fresh.

Classic Otago Rally stages such as Whare Flat, Kuri Bush and Waipori Gorge will all return in 2009, with an anticipated stage distance of 260 kilometres.

Event organisers are also planning to minimise the double useage of stages, so that a single pass recce can still be completed in one day.

The Otago Sports Car Club, attracted a record field of competitors in 2008, with a large number of Australian and international entries, including former Audi works driver, Michele Mouton.

Already, plans are in motion to entice some high profile international drivers to the 2009 Otago Rally.

Further information on next year’s event will be available on the official event website as it becomes available: www.otagorally.co.nz