Rally fans have got their wish, with World Rally Championship star, Mads Østberg, confirmed as the international guest at next year’s Otago Classic Rally.

The Otago Rally are thrilled to announce that Dunedin Isuzu D-Max Utes have been confirmed as the rally's naming rights sponsor for the second year in succession.

Popular Irish rally driver, Frank Kelly, is returning to New Zealand and will contest the Otago Rally and Rally of Whangarei in 2019.

Popular global rallying commentator, Colin Clark, will make a guest appearance at next year's Otago Rally in New Zealand, from April 12 to 14.

The Otago Rally will go ‘back to the future’ next year with a seeding order not used since the early 2000s, and that will further enhance the excitement of the event.

Next year’s Otago Rally will offer competitors a two-pass reconnaissance for the first time, in a move to reduce the advantage of drivers who have contested the event on many occasions.

The dates for the first two rounds of the 2019 New Zealand Rally Championship have been announced, with the Otago Rally and the Rally of Whangarei to once again open the season.

Regan Ross has taken outright honours in this year’s International Otago Classic Rally, showing his class to take a commanding victory.

Hayden Paddon stormed to a convincing win in the Dunedin Isuzu Otago Rally in the first round of the Brian Green Property New Zealand Rally Championship on Sunday.