The Otago Rally is pleased to announce that Central Machine Hire is the new title sponsor for the 2024 edition of the event.

Owned by regular competitor and Otago businessman Allan Dippie, Central Machine Hire is a heavy-hire business providing earthmoving and civil construction equipment to a wide range of clients throughout the South Island. They have branches in Dunedin, Christchurch, Cromwell and Wanaka.

Their top-quality hire equipment is primarily based around the Komatsu, Kubota and Caterpillar brands and includes excavators, articulated dump trucks, loaders, graders, telehandlers, rock crushers, construction rollers, bulldozers, road trucks and watercarts.

“I’ve always admired the Otago Rally and the way that it promotes the sport, as well as Dunedin and Otago as a destination. I think it’s the best rally in New Zealand and we are proud to become the major sponsor and we are 100% committed to the event for the next three years,” Dippie said.

“Otago Rally has a great alignment with Central Machine Hire, many of our clients and suppliers are motorsport enthusiasts and this is also a great opportunity to support our local community. It was an easy decision.”

2024 Central Machine Hire Otago Rally spokesman, Roger Oakley, added:

“Allan Dippie has always been supportive behind the scenes. When Miki Biasion competed in the classic rally in 2013, it was Allan’s Porsche 911 that he drove.

“We are delighted to announce Central Machine Hire as our new title sponsor and know we have the backing of someone who really believes in the event.”

In announcing the new sponsor, Oakley also thanked the previous title sponsor.

“Allied Press’ ‘Drivesouth’ has generously agreed to reposition itself as a principal media sponsor, with an agreement to continue the level of event promotion and coverage that has helped support and grow the event since 2006,” he said.

Matthew Holdridge, Commercial Manager, Allied Press, added:

“Allied Press and Drivesouth has been a major supporter of Otago Rally for 18 years and is very pleased to welcome Central Machine Hire as naming rights partner.

“We’ll continue our sponsorship, and importantly our commitment to local reporting, providing rallying enthusiasts and the wider Otago and Southland communities with the latest from the rally.”

For more details on Central Machine Hire, visit their website HERE.

The 2024 Central Machine Hire Otago Rally is the opening round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship.

The Otago Rally gratefully acknowledges the Premier Event grant support of the Dunedin City Council.