The field for the Dunlop International Classic Rally of Otago may be a little thinner in terms of overseas drivers than in past years, but the form guide hints that the battle for victory could be just as intense as always.

Last year’s winner, Finnish star Pasi Hagstrom, is not competing this year, but his place in the field has been taken by one of the legendary McRae clan – Alister.

This year’s Rally of Otago will see two lady drivers at the pointy end of the field, proving that you don’t have to be a man to be successful in the dirty and dusty world of rallying.

French lady, Michele Mouton, is widely regarded as the greatest female rally driver of all time, but a local Kiwi girl will also be challenging the boys for victory when the event gets under way on May 10.

Finland’s Pasi Hagstrom is on target to end the Ford Escort RS1800 domination of the Dunlop International Otago Classic Rally, and holds a commanding lead at the end of the first day of the event.

Former champion, and round one winner, Richard Mason, will start the Rally of Otago eager to build on his points haul in this year’s New Zealand Rally Championship.

Mason delivered the first blow in his battle with 2008 NZ Champion, Hayden Paddon, in the Hawke’s Bay Rally, taking victory ahead of former Dunedin girl Emma Gilmour, and the experienced Geof Argyle.

Rally fans are being given the opportunity to take part in an exclusive dinner, to be hosted by former World Rally Championship star, Michele Mouton, in the week leading up to the Otago Rally.

Mouton, a former works driver for the Audi factory team in the famed Group B era of the WRC, will be in New Zealand to drive a Ford Escort RS1800 in the southern hemisphere’s best classic gravel rally.

The French pairing of Michele Mouton and Fabrizia Pons have turned back the clock and driven an ex-works Audi Quattro at today’s Super Special Stage of the Otago Rally, in Dunedin, NZ.

The Flying Scotsman, Alister McRae, hit the forests in his Ford Escort RS1800 yesterday, ahead of this weekend's Dunlop International Classic Rally of Otago.

On outright speed, this weekend’s Stadium Cars / Ssangyong International Classic Rally of Otago could turn into a classic New Zealand vs Australia shoot-out.

NZ’s brightest star, Hayden Paddon, will go head-to-head with Aussie legend, Neal Bates, with the rest of the 44-car classic field looking likely to have to follow in their dust.

Defending Vantage New Zealand Rally champion Hayden Paddon has won the 2009 Southern Cross Rally of Otago after a two-day duel with early series leader Richard Mason.

Winning by a margin of 19.7 seconds after 255 kilometres of competition over a mixture of forestry and county roads in central and southern Otago, the final day of six special stages was a climatic finish.

Check out our photo gallery for 60 new photos from the 2009 Otago Rally, courtesy of Rana Kelly.