The Otago Rally will return to its traditional May date in 2008, with the expectation that more settled weather will make things more pleasant for competitors, officials and spectators alike.

Widely regarded as the best event on the New Zealand Rally Championship calendar, the event will once again host a round of the national championship, as well as the increasingly popular International Classic Rally of Otago, and the Allcomers Rally.

The official entry list for the 2008 Rally of Otago is now available. The list includes 21 entries in the New Zealand Rally Championship round, 50 entries in the Dunlop Classic Rally, and a further 32 cars in the Rally Xtreme.

Masterton’s Richard and Sara Mason comfortably won the Rally of Otago today to extend their overall lead in the Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship.
 

Australian competitors are already showing a strong interest in contesting the 2008 Otago Rally, despite the event still being over eight months away.

The event, which in 2008 will run on May 10 and 11, is already well into the planning phase with a number of changes set to enhance the event even further.

Drivesouth, the motoring section of the Otago Daily Times, has been announced as the major sponsor for the motorsport show to be held on Friday, May 9, the night before the 2008 Rally of Otago gets under way.

The internet's video sites are starting to fill up with footage from the 2008 Otago Rally, with plenty of classy driving from this year's event - from both in the car and out of the car.

The 2008 Otago Classic Rally should see an increase in the number of high-profile European drivers heading down under for the southern hemisphere’s premier classic rally.

Have you ever dreamed about sitting in the co-driver’s seat of an Audi Quattro with over 400 horsepower as it roared along a special stage?

Well here’s your chance!

The date for the 2009 Rally of Otago has been confirmed as May 16 and 17, with the event running as round two of the New Zealand Rally Championship.

Next year’s Rally of Otago will offer competitors real hardcore rallying, with over 270km of special stages, including a monster 51km stage in the Berwick pine plantation.

Organisers from the Otago Sports Car Club will introduce 80km of new roads for the 2008 event, including Kai Forest, Coal Gully Road, Moonlight and Ramrock.