Long-term sponsor, Dunlop, have re-affirmed their commitment to the Otago Classic Rally for 2008.

Major sponsor of the Otago Classic Rally since 2002, Dunlop’s support of the most popular classic rally in the southern hemisphere has enabled investment in the growth of the event. This investment has seen many star drivers from Europe competing, and has helped increase television coverage, both nationally and internationally.

The world’s best known, and most successful, female rally driver, Michèle Mouton, will be the drawcard entry in the 2008 Dunlop Classic Rally of Otago, driving a Ford Escort RS1800 for the Rossendale Rally Team.

For five years now, the Rossendale Team have been working in a very successful partnership with the event organisers to bring high profile European drivers to what is now regarded as the Southern Hemisphere's premier classic rallying events.

Hey kids! Win some fantastic Otago Rally prizes simply by colouring in this great picture of Michele Mouton in her Audi Quattro.

It's less than a week until the Dunlop International Otago Classic Rally fires into action in Dunedin, and South Island speedster, Deane Buist, will be out to take back-to-back victories in the two-day event.

But who will be Buist's biggest threat for victory, and will a chance of car dampen the champion's chances?

We look at some of the drivers to watch.

2007 Rally of Otago winners, Richard and Sara Mason, will start as odds-on favourites to win this year’s event, to be run in and around Dunedin on May 10 and 11.

The 2008 Otago Rally's biggest drawcard, French woman Michele Mouton, has arrived in Dunedin for this weekend's Dunlop International Classic Rally.

This morning's shakedown for the 2008 Rally of Otago saw a number of drivers testing their cars ahead of this weekend's event.

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.

The Flying Scotsman, Alister McRae, holds a commanding lead after the first day of the Dunlop International Classic Rally of Otago in Dunedin.

Driving a Ford Escort RS1800, McRae and co-driver, Erin Kyle, hold a one minute and 34 second lead over the Nissan-powered Escort of Derek Ayson, while Brad Goldsbrough is the first of the Australians in third place in his Datsun 1600.

Local driver Derek Ayson has won the Dunlop International Classic Rally of Otago after overnight leader, Alister McRae, retired with engine failure on the day’s fifth stage.

Driving a Nissan powered Ford Escort, Ayson and co-driver Greg Scott took victory by a comfortable margin of two minutes and 30 seconds from Australians Brad Goldsbrough and Aaron Topliff in a Datsun 1600.