The 50th anniversary of the Central Machine Hire Otago Rally has drawn a staggering field, with 148 crews set to tackle the spectacular southern gravel roads from April 10-12.

Proving the irresistible global appeal of the milestone event, the just released seeded entry list features 37 international teams representing 11 different countries.

Fans lining the stages will be treated to a masterclass, with a star-studded international roster that includes World Rally Championship heavyweights Kris Meeke (Ireland) and Mads Østberg (Norway), alongside Finnish speedster Pasi Hagström and Australian motorsport legend Toby Price.

While the internationals bring the star power, the domestic fight is looking just as fierce. The event serves as Round 1 of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC), drawing 42 entries across the various fields.

Canterbury stars Robbie and Jack Stokes are the top seeds, and will be looking to lay down a marker early in the season. Both drivers will be at the wheel of Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evos.

The event has also sparked a revived interest in the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) component of the rally, which boasts eight entries from five countries. New Zealand is well represented, but there are also crews from Australia, Japan, Spain and India.

In the Allcomers Rally, local hero Emma Gilmour will be the one to chase, taking the top seed in her potent Citroën C3 Rally2.

Meanwhile, the much-loved classic categories remain a massive drawcard. The Classic 4WD field continues its rapid upward trajectory, booming to a healthy 20 entries for this year’s event, while there are 45 crews entered in the Classic Rally for two-wheel drive cars.

For event spokesman Roger Oakley, the sheer scale and depth of the 2026 entry list perfectly captures what the Central Machine Hire Otago Rally is all about.

“We’re hugely excited by such strong interest in our 50th event. We’re working really hard to make this a memorable occasion,” Oakley said.

“One of the things is that the interest from both locals and international drivers is throughout the depth of every field. This tells us that competitors understand what’s great about the sport: good times, great camaraderie, and competition at whatever level they are at.

“That said, spectators are in for a treat, with top-level competition from a wide variety of cars. There is something for everyone.”

The 2026 Central Machine Hire Otago Rally gets underway in Dunedin’s Octagon on Friday night, April 10, before two days and 16 stages of competitive action on Saturday and Sunday.

The Otago Rally acknowledges and thanks the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment for support through its Events Boost Fund, and the City of Dunedin for Premier Event support.

The updated event map and seeded entry list are available to download HERE.