Just one point separates the two leading contenders in the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship after the first visit to Southland in two decades. WRC rally winner Hayden Paddon claimed a victory of just over three minutes from Ben Hunt in his Hyundai New Zealand i20 AP4, winning each of the 10 special stages across Friday night and Saturday on the fast and flowing Southland gravel stages.




Paddon closes the gap to championship leader Robbie Stokes to 24 points as he fights to overcome missing the opening round back in April.


Hunt (Skoda New Zealand Fabia Rally 2) managed to edge Stokes (Stokes Motorsport Ford Fiesta AP4) by 7.9 seconds in a terrific event-long battle, which leaves the two separated by just one championship point as the series takes a break until September.


Otago Rally winner Jack Hawkeswood (Force Motorsport Toyota GR Yaris) completed a solid drive for fourth place and remains in the title fight – 21 points adrift of Stokes.


Emma Gilmour picked up fifth place in her Vantage NZ Citroen C3 and sits 25 points off the title lead, while Zeal Jones (Smith & Sons Skoda Fabia R5) was fifth and is a further point back from Gilmour.


Dylan Thomson (Ford Fiesta) overcame some early troubles to win the NZRC 2WD class for the third-straight event. He held off Jack Stokes (Ford Fiesta) and Bryn Jones (Ford Fiesta), who completed the class podium.


Dave Strong (Honda Jazz) took out the Open 2WD class ahead of Willy Hawes (Toyota 86) and Murray Percival (Ford Escort). Hawes remains in charge of the class championship.


Paul Fraser’s domination of the Historic 2WD class continued as he banked maximum points yet again, while Mike Cameron (Mitsubishi Lancer) showcased his consistency to take second place and stay in the title fight.


Southland local Andrew Graves held off the challengers in the Rally Challenge 4WD battle to win in his Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 3. He beat home Caleb Macdonald (Mitsubishi EVO 6) and Carter Strang (Mitsubishi EVO 10).


Defending class champion Jared Parker (Toyota Corolla) overcame a number of issues to win the Rally Challenge 2WD class and pick up the MRF Drive of the Rally for his efforts. Pat Norris (Toyota Yaris) was second in the class.


The championship returns after the winter break in mid-September - Saturday the 14th - with the Daybreaker Rally based in the Manawatu.

A full 20 years since the roads of Southland, New Zealand, hosted top-tier competition, this weekend’s 21-22 June Transport World Southern Lights Rally will be headed by defending European Rally Champion and seven-time New Zealand Rally Champion Hayden Paddon.      




Leading the first of 65 cars in the world’s southernmost championship rally event, Paddon and junior co-driver Jared Hudson will start their Hyundai i20 AP4 from Invercargill’s Transport World at 5pm on Friday.      


The event last ran as a round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) in 2004.       Paddon is fresh from contesting the latest round of the European Rally Championship, finishing third overall at last weekend’s Royal Rally of Scandinavia (Sweden).      


Returning to Southland has special significance for Paddon, who, in 2003, started his first-ever New Zealand Rally Championship event at the age of 16. Since then, he has amassed a Production World Rally Championship title, the FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, and the FIA European Rally Championship crowns, plus a total of seven New Zealand Rally Championship wins. The now 37-year-old is currently the only Kiwi to win a round of the World Rally Championship.      


“You could say this is where it really began – 21 years ago when I first contested in the same rally as the then championship leaders,” explained Paddon.      


“To be returning in 2024 is exciting, the R2G Group have planned a spectacular event including some night stuff which I’ve always enjoyed. The style of the road is notorious for the region and the challenge of new notes, new roads and debuting our Hyundai in the deep south will make for a very exciting event.       “Add in starting on the Friday evening, really makes it unique.”      


Following Paddon into the dark is former NZRC Champion Ben Hunt and co-driver Tony Rawstorn in the Skoda Fabia Rally2. Hunt’s pre-event nerves about pending fatherhood have been eased by the safe arrival of a second daughter to the family.      


Starting as third car a further minute later, current NZRC points leader Robbie Stokes and Amy Stokes will take to the road in their Ford Fiesta AP4. Championship opening round winner Jack Hawkeswood and Jason Farmer Toyota Yaris AP4 will be fourth car.      


Five different manufacturer brands are represented across the first five cars on the road. The front end of the field also includes many Subarus and Mitsubishis that previously dominated the region's roads. The top Subaru representative will be Southland local Mark McMillan and Tim Driscoll in a WRX Sti, while Australian Stewart Reid and Canterbury co-driver Bella Haggarty front the Mitsubishi field in an AP4 car.      


Extreme E and 2016 Australian Rally Champion Molly Taylor, along with co-driver Andy Sarandis, will make their first start at a New Zealand event in an H6 specification Subaru Impreza. Joining them in showcasing female driving talent is Dunedin’s Emma Gilmour, paired with co-driver Ben Searcy, in the Citroen C3 Rally2 car. Additionally, Bannockburn’s Terri Taylor, with Jimmy Martin as co-driver, will compete in a Subaru Impreza. The event also features other international participants, including Vanuatu’s Nelson Law and Antonio Korikalo, who will drive a Mazda 2 AP4.      


At the tail end of the field is Manawatu’s Andrew Lowe and Thomas Good in a Toyota Corolla.      


After the Friday evening Pebbly Hills Forest stage, the cars will park up in central Invercargill for the night before resuming the journey early Saturday morning. The route uses closed sections of road to the north and west of Invercargill, with service stops at Winton and Tuatapere. The final special stage is set at the Teretonga race circuit, using a mix of gravel and half of the track for a spectacular finish, followed by podium celebrations in-field at the venue from 5pm.      


The event also marks the shortest day of the year, with daylight hours between 8:31am and 5:05pm.      


Event Overview:      


The Transport World Southern Lights Rally kicks off on Friday night, 21 June 2024, from Invercargill and covers 150km of special stages through Southland. Spectators can enjoy the action with a $10 donation to charity at the door for the ceremonial start, and $10 entry for both the Pebbly Hills night stage and the ceremonial finish. Tickets are available from Invercargill’s Transport World, E Hayes & Sons, Auto Centre, and Harrison Supplies in Gore, or at the gate.      


Backing the organisers, Rally Race Group, are local car clubs, particularly the South Otago Car Club and the Southland Sports Car Club.

Hayden Paddon and John Kennard finished a hard-fought third in the Royal Rally of Scandinavia, which ran 14 to 16 June as the third round of the 2024 FIA European Rally Championship (ERC). Both New Zealanders are now first equal in the drivers’ and co-drivers’ championship points.  




The Kiwi rally stars achieved their goal of a podium finish in the BRC Racing Hyundai i20 Rally2, but having won three special stages on the super fast Swedish gravel roads and held a close second place to eventual rally winner Oliver Solberg, Paddon was particularly frustrated by another final stage puncture which dropped them down to third overall.  


“Obviously it’s good to be back on the podium,” says Paddon, “but it’s a missed opportunity to not get bonus points on the power stage. Nevertheless, we’re pleased to be sharing the lead of the championship, first equal with Mathieu Franceschi. It feels like a pretty challenging start to the year, but we’ve certainly got plenty of good things to build on when we head to the next ERC round in Estonia in July.”  


During recce and qualifying earlier in the week Paddon described the stages as looking amazing. The rally commenced with a 2.23km super special stage in Karlstad on Thursday evening which Paddon won by 0.3 seconds from Mads Ostberg.  


Friday’s eight stages were fast with lots of time in fifth gear and speeds of over 140 km/h, and slightly rougher conditions in the afternoon which Paddon said didn’t suit the Hyundai as well as the morning’s smoother roads. Nonetheless he was happy to finish the day in second just 3.3 seconds away from Solberg in the lead.  


Eight more stages on Saturday brought more intense pressure from other frontrunners and Paddon tried hard to counter Solberg’s pace. He kept his focus on consolidating second place with the goal of adding some power stage points in the final stage, which unfortunately didn’t come to fruition due to the puncture.  


“While it could have been better, it also could have been worse and there are still plenty of positives from the weekend and some progress with the car. Now, I head home to contest the Southern Lights Rally in Invercargill on 21/22 June.”  


Paddon Racing Group appreciates the support of Hyundai New Zealand, Mitre 10 Trade, Z Energy, Valvoline, Makita, Bars Bugs, Pirelli, OMP/Racer Products, Winmax Brake Pads, South Canterbury Road Safety, TrailLite, Repco NZ, Stedi, Highlands Motorsport Park, MITO, Machinery House, Design Windows, Bartercard, Mike Greer Homes, Provident Insurance, King Gee Clothing and Signbiz.

Oliver Solberg goes back-to-back at ERC Royal Rally of Scandinavia as late drama slows would-be runner-up Hayden Paddon.     




Oliver Solberg is a double BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia winner after he outpaced his rivals in a high-speed battle for FIA European Rally Championship glory.


The 22-year-old from Sweden began the second day of ERC action with a narrow 3.3sec lead over Hayden Paddon. But while Paddon admitted to “pulling the commitment down” due to having “no feeling or grip” during the morning loop, Solberg went on a charge.


Driving a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 on Pirelli tyres, Solberg was fastest on all four stages this morning to reach midday service in Karlstad leading by 13.7sec.


And the FIA WRC2 Championship frontrunner continued to push during the afternoon, adding another four stage wins to his tally – including the event-closing Power Stage – to come out on top by 38.0sec after Paddon was slowed by tyre damage on the deciding test and dropped to third.


“Yesterday I wasn’t happy but today the feeling is better, the car suits better today’s roads and I found good confidence,” said Solberg, who was co-driven to first place by Briton Elliott Edmondson.


For defending ERC champion Paddon, third place marked his first podium finish of the season. And with Mathieu Franceschi crashing out on the Power Stage, Paddon is now equal on 56 points with the Frenchman at the top of the title table.


“Oliver has been doing a very good job and we didn’t have any answer,” said Paddon, who was on course for a Pirelli one-two in his BRC Racing Team-entered Hyundai i20 N Rally2 until his Power Stage woe.


“It’s frustrating [the result] is probably a bit more than we expected because the others are getting faster and we’re probably a bit more limited with our package.”


After the frustration of retiring from the lead of the V-Híd Rally Hungary season opener in April, Michelin-shod Heikkilä’s podium finish was richly deserved, although a pop-off valve issue on SS15, and a wide moment at a junction on the penultimate test, allowed Mathieu Franceschi to close up to within 3.8sec of Heikkilä. However, the Toyota-driving Finn moved into second when Paddon was slowed as Franceschi suffered the heartbreak of retirement for the first time in 2024.


A spin for Frank Tore Larsen on SS12 proved costly when the Norwegian dropped almost 18sec trying to get his Volkswagen Polo GTI R5 pointing in the right direction. But he regained his composure to finish fourth as Mads Østberg battled handling and power issues to finish fifth in his TRT Rally Team Citroën C3 Rally2.


Mārtiṇš Sesks dropped out of the top-five fight when his Toyota stalled and half-spun twice in quick succession in sight of the SS10 finish. “I don’t know what’s happening, the car just stalled under braking,” the dejected MRF Tyres-equipped driver said after he dropped almost 20sec and slipped from fifth to eighth before coming through to sixth.


Isak Reiersen, a 20-year-old car mechanic from Karlstad and the Junior ERC winner on BAUHAUS Royal Rally of Scandinavia last year, impressed in seventh with Miko Marczyk, Andrea Mabellini and Simone Tempestini rounding out the top 10.


Multiple FIA World Rallycross champion Johan Kristoffersson took 11th followed by Kalle Gustavssson, 2022 ERC champion Efrén Llarena and Hankook-equipped Filip Mareš, who opened the road throughout the final day.


Petter Solberg, winner of the 2003 FIA World Rally Championship, overcame a steering rack issue to finish 15th – and claim the final ERC point – on his first international rally since 2019 and his first European championship start since 1998.  


There’s more gravel action ERC-style to come next month with Delfi Rally Estonia hosting the fourth event of the season from 5 - 7 July.


Final Classification:


1. O Solberg / E Edmondson SWE Škoda Fabia RS 1hr 32min 40.8sec


2. M Heikkilä / K Temonen FIN Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 +38s


3. H Paddon / J Kennard NZL Hyundai i20 N Rally2 +51s


4. F Larsen / L Lundgren NOR Volkswagen Polo GTI +1min 28.7s


5. M Østberg / P Barth NOR Citroën C3 Rally2 +1min 33.8s


6. M Sesks / R Francis LAT Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 +1min 41.7s

The Southern Lights Rally gets underway Friday 21 June 2024 as the central Invercargill location of Transport World will host and launch New Zealand’s top rally drivers into the night for the start of the world’s southernmost rally championship event.




The journey, covering 157km of Southland’s finest gravel roads, begins with a ceremonial start at 4pm at Transport World, which has secured the naming rights.


This year marks the first time the rally has run since 2004, with the inaugural competitive stage set to take place through the forest section of Pebbly Hills.


Announcing their support of the event, Marketing and Sales Manager Hannah Whyte said Bill Richardson Transport World was excited to lead the event as the naming sponsor.


“We are rapt to see the event back in Invercargill after such a long time – it is a good thing for us and the region, and that is why we jumped at the opportunity to partner for the naming rights.


“Hosting a ceremonial start is a new adventure, and we are excited to have so many cars join us here at Transport World. Being under cover makes it a perfect Friday evening activity for family groups to meet and see their rally heroes before they take to our Southland roads.”


Bill Richardson Transport World has grown from one man’s passion for historic vehicles into a 15,000 square metre complex that showcases everything from a 1933 International D1 to the Ray Williams Land Speed Record Porsche 930 Turbo.


The third round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship melds the nation’s best with others living their best life in a variety of vehicles, from the Hayden Paddon-piloted Hyundai to the 1989 V8 Ford Falcon of Invercargill’s Neville Mennell.


Following Friday’s launch from Transport World and the opening special stage, the remainder of the action takes place on Saturday.


Centred around the service park locations of Winton and Tuatapere, the tenth and final special stage will be at the Teretonga Park Raceway from 4:25pm.


Supporting the Rally Race Group organisers are the South Otago Car Club and Southland Sports Car Club, in addition to the community-owned Invercargill Licensing Trust.


“Support from the Invercargill community has been humbling in allowing the dream of bringing this event back to life after 20 years,” said co-organiser Paul Fallon. “Of the community groups we’ve so far been connected with, they all come with a passion to make this happen, and that’s what makes having Transport World as our naming sponsor partner and location for our ceremonial start so special. Their enthusiasm and commitment to the rally has been invaluable, and we are thrilled to see the event return with such strong local backing.”


The Transport World Southern Lights Rally will conclude with a ceremonial finish from 5pm at Teretonga.

2023 NIRS champion Phil Campbell has continued his winning way taking victory in the opening round of the Generator Rental Services North Island Rally Series (NIRS) held at Jacks Ridge on Sunday, 19 May 2024.   




Second fastest behind Campbell and co-driver Brianna Little (Ford Fiesta AP4), was Todd Bawden/Simon Perkinson (Ford Fiesta R5 MkII) with Hayden McKenzie/Michael Goudie (Toyota Yaris AP4) in third, Quentin Palmer/Noel Moloney (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo5) fourth and Dave Strong/Rob Scott (Ford Fiesta S2000) in fifth.


With a revised season calendar, the opening round comprised four runs over the Jacks Ridge WRC Rally Sprint course in Whitford as part of Round 3 of the CPS Northern Rally Sprint Series hosted by the South Auckland Car Club event.


Campbell stayed in front winning all four Special Stages with Bawden and McKenzie fighting over second place.  Bawden finished runner up to Campbell three times and McKenzie runner up in one Special Stage.


With eight classes making up the field, Tony Young (Datsun 1200) was quickest in Class A (2WD 0-1300cc) with Rodney James/Adam Miller (Toyota MR2) winning Class B (2WD 1301-1600cc). 


In Class C (2WD 1601-2000cc) it was John Whooley/Will Ward (Honda Civic) beating home Dale James/Madeline Buhr (Ford ST150).


Adrian Smith/Jack Packer (Ford RS1800) head Class E (2WD Classic), Campbell/Little lead Class F 4wd 1601- 2000cc) with Quentin Palmer/Noel Moloney (Mitsubishi Evo5) first in the popular Class G (4WD >2001). 


The Subaru H6 Class H was led by Jamie Rodgers/Josh Rodgers (Subaru Impreza H6) with Bevan Wilson/Steve Mawer (Subaru Impreza) winning Class I (4WD pre-1996).


The Generator Rental Services ‘Drive of the Day’ was awarded to Quentin Palmer in his trusty bright yellow Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 5, who was snapping at the top three heels.


“It was a fabulous day and great fun was had by all,” commented NIRS Coordinator Marty Roestenburg. 


“A couple of cars had incidents without injury and a couple of others had mechanical issues over a very technical and demanding 5km course.


“It’s great to get the 2024 season underway and we look forward to Round 2 at Stratford in five-weeks’ time.”


In early July - Sunday the 7th - the series moves to the undulating tarmac surfaces of Taranaki for Round 2, the SBT Group Taranaki Tarmac Rally based in Stratford. 


Entries have also opened for the late July - Saturday the 27th - running of the Ventia Rally of Dargaville Tunatahi.