The 2016 Otago Rally will see the debut of a brand new Subaru WRX STi NR4 in the hands of the new New Zealand Rally Champion, Ben Hunt.

Finland's Ari Vatanen heads the entry list for April's DriveSouth Rally of Otago, with a high quality field ready to assemble in Dunedin.

Vatanen will take on last year's Classic Rally winner, Derek Ayson, while reigning champion Dean Sumner will lead off the field in the opening round of the New Zealand Rally Championship.

CLICK HERE for the full DriveSouth Rally of Otago entry list.

Rally fans are being given the opportunity of a lifetime, with the chance to ride in a Ford Escort RS1800 driven by 1981 World Rally Champion, Ari Vatanen.

The Rally of Otago, in conjunction with Rossendale Wines, are auctioning two rides with Vatanen, one in Christchurch, and the other around the tarmac street stage during the Rally of Otago in Dunedin.

Hayden Paddon leads the DriveSouth Rally of Otago after the opening three stages, held on Friday night near Dunedin, in New Zealand's South Island.

Keep up to date with news from the Rally of Otago on our Facebook page, which we're updating during the event.

New Zealand's leading rally driver, Hayden Paddon has finished the first day of the DriveSouth Rally of Otago with a commanding 1m33.4 second lead in his Subaru Impreza.

Geraldine’s Hayden Paddon has a commanding lead after nine stages of the 2011 DriveSouth Rally of Otago, the Subaru STI driver finishing 1 minute 33.4 seconds ahead of the Mitsubishi of Rotorua’s Dean Sumner.

Hayden Paddon has won day two of the DriveSouth Rally of Otago by the slender margin of 3.5 seconds, giving him two wins in two days in his Subaru Impreza WRX.

The opening round of the 2011 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship has seen top rally driver Hayden Paddon secure a comprehensive win at the DriveSouth Rally of Otago.