2026 can’t come quickly enough for Central Machine Hire Otago Rally fans, with the initial route for next year’s rally being unveiled by event organisers.

The rally will be held over the weekend of April 11 and 12, with a compact route that will be based south of Dunedin.

There will be 16 specials stages covering an impressive 280 kilometres, 95% of which are on fast public roads.

Following the rally show and ceremonial start on Friday evening, day one will be based at Lawrence, using different configurations of the popular roads in that region.

Sunday will start with the only forest stage of the rally. On the 50th anniversary of the Otago Rally, it will be exactly the same stage as the one that started the very first event, back in 1976.

“There’s a good chance that the stage record may be broken,” joked Clerk of Course, Norman Oakley.

Day two will again be centred around the picturesque Lake Waihola, concluding with the world famous Kuri Bush stage.

While it is still over six months away, interest in the anniversary edition of the Central Machine Hire Otago Rally is already at fever pitch. Non-binding ‘intentions to enter’ opened recently, and already over 40 crews have signalled their interest in competing.

The rally will be the opening round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, and also include the International Otago Classic Rally.

To register your intention to enter, CLICK HERE.