An influx of quality applications has seen the Central Machine Hire Otago Rally award scholarships to two up-and-coming young rally drivers.

Choosing the two recipients from the 11 applications wasn’t any easy task, but eventually, Cromwell’s Josh Cooper and Waikato’s Samuel Broadbent were selected.

Twenty-five-year-old Josh Cooper won the 2024/25 Eastern Southland Car Club Championship and, in 2024, joined the Paddon Racing Group team as a mechanic and car manager.

“Rallying has become a large part of my life, and being selected for this scholarship means I can take a major step forward in my development as a young competitor determined to build a future in the sport,” Cooper said.

“Adding such an iconic event like the Otago Classic Rally to my 2026 calendar is an amazing achievement and something I’ve dreamed of doing for several years.”

Samuel Broadbent, 23, is from Ngatea in the Waikato. In 2023, he became New Zealand’s first simulator rally champion on EA WRC, holding multiple stage records.

He then translated these skills into the rally car, winning the ‘Fastest Rookie Driver’ in the North Island Rally Series and was the 1600cc class winner. His goals include winning entry into Motorsport New Zealand’s Elite Motorsport Academy, and then to contest the New Zealand Rally Championship in 2027 in the Rookie and Junior classes.

“To me, the Otago Rally Driver Scholarship is more than funding; it is a pathway for growth, mentorship, and the chance to contribute to the Otago Rally community,” he said.

Both scholarship winners receive free entry to the Central Machine Hire Otago Rally, including a set of stage notes, and $500 in cash.

“We were delighted with the response,” scholarship convenor Tony Johnston said.

“It really is quite uplifting to see how focused all the 11 applicants were on progressing in the sport, and how hard they are working to achieve their goals. It was very difficult to decide on the final recipients.

“All of them were worthy, and I will be watching their progress with a lot of interest.”

The value of the scholarship can clearly be seen, with 2024 winner Zeal Jones recently confirmed as a Toyota Gazoo Racing WRC Challenge Program driver, based in Finland. The two-year program rallying in Finland and Europe is a part of Toyota’s pathway to the WRC. Zeal was selected for this program against a very high-quality field.

Event sponsor and Central Machine Hire owner, Allan Dippie, is a big supporter of the scholarship program.

“I’ve got a lot of enjoyment out of the sport over many years, and it is a great feeling to be able to give something back.

“These applicants give me a great deal of confidence in the future of the sport,” Dippie said.

The Central Machine Hire Otago Rally thanks the New Zealand Government for support from its Event Boost Fund, and the City of Dunedin for Premier Event support.