The Catlins Coast Rally is getting a makeover this year, with the introduction of new stages on roads that have not been used before, as the event approaches its 20th anniversary.
Organising committee chairman Roger Laird, who has extra duties as the rally secretary and assistant clerk at the event, confirmed the August 10 rally would open with the popular Cannibal Bay stage that has been a feature of every Catlins Rally. After that, the route will offer up some surprises.
‘‘We are trying to keep some adventure in the event and make it fresh.’’
The rally’s organising committee have fine-tuned a six-stage event that uses a mix of public and private roads, plus stages run in different directions than previously. It will cover 150km of competitive driving, with 90km of touring between stages.
Laird said the decision was made to scale the rally back from nine stages to focus on providing a quality rather than quantity event. Finding new turf after all these years wasn’t too difficult.
‘‘As a rule, everyone’s being very supportive of the event. We try to get it right for them and we realise we are there not as a right but as a privilege.’’
Although the it often attracts rally drivers from the North Island and Australia, the Catlins Rally tends to favour locals but the argument that their results stem from them knowing all the roads won’t be valid this year.
‘‘Some of the roads are behind closed gates [on private land],’’ Laird said.
Owaka will now be the central hub for the rally, with the start, finish and two services all held there.
Entries for the Catlins Coast Rally open next week. More information is available from the Eastern Southland Car Club’s Facebook page and website.
- by Catherine Pattison
Photo: John Cosgrove
