Less than three weeks after the running of this year’s rally, organisers of the Otago Rally have confirmed the date for the 2024 event.

The rally will be conducted from April 12 to 14, two weeks after the Easter break, and hopefully utilising the best of the autumn weather in the Otago region.

After the success of the 2023 Otago Rally, organisers have had an influx of interest from international crews wanting to ship their cars to New Zealand for the popular gravel rally.

“We’re very pleased to be able to announce a date so early, and appreciate the co-operation of other events to allow this,” event spokesman, Roger Oakley, said.

“The organising team is full of enthusiasm after the success of this year’s event, and while we know where we can improve, we’ve been very appreciative of the positive feedback.  

“Being able to confirm a date so early on gives us more time to focus on providing a great event.  The early date announcement is particularly helpful for our international competitors.”

This year’s guest driver was Finnish WRC star Mikko Hirvonen, who won the Classic Rally in the Rossendale Wines Ford Escort RS1800.

Discussions have already begun to secure guest drivers for 2024.

Planning of the all-important rally route will begin in the next two months, with the rally likely to be centred south of Dunedin and include the challenging public road stages near Lawrence.

Some of the tricky roads in the Berwick Forest are only available to the event every second year, so won’t feature to the same extent in 2024, however, the rally’s signature stages such as Waipori Gorge, Whare Flat and Kuri Bush will return once again.

In 2023, the rally attracted 115 entries and was once again the opening round of the New Zealand Rally Championship.

The Otago Rally is grateful for the support of Dunedin City Council Premier Event funding.