Latest news with #BarryRobinsonMemorialWyndhamRally
Otago Daily Times
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Pit stop
PHOTO: GERRIT DOPPENBERG Car 39 team members (from left) Arron Campbell, Laike Guzik, 11, Donna Guzik and Nathan "Flippa" Fraser relax at the Croydon Lodge in Gore after a day tackling Southland roads as part of the 2025 Barry Robinson Memorial Wyndham Rally.
Otago Daily Times
03-08-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
First outright win for Queenstown drivers
Caleb MacDonald and Larisa Biggar, in a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 6, scream down the road at the 2025 Barry Robinson Memorial Wyndham Rally, where they took out their first outright win on Saturday. CREDIT: DAVE LOUDON PHOTOGRAPHY The 2025 Barry Robinson Memorial Wyndham Rally had drivers battling wet and wild conditions, with one driver taking his first outright rally win. The first of six stages began early on Saturday morning — but the conditions soon turned it into a tug of war against the weather. Torrential rain bucketed down on drivers, reducing visibility and bogging up the roads, adding an extra layer to the race. Coming into the final stage it was anyone's race, with Caleb Macdonald and Larisa Biggar in the lead by 18 seconds, but the pack closing in. However, the duo were able to pull off the win, their first outright victory in rally sports, taking the Barry Robinson Memorial Trophy back to Queenstown. Rally committee member Roger Laird said the event was fantastic for both drivers and spectators, with the weather adding to the displays of driving skill. Laird said he was impressed by the competitiveness of the drivers but was especially happy for the winners. "I'm absolutely thrilled for Caleb and Larisa. It was a very close-fought battle," he said. Macdonald, who was racing in a Mitsubishi EVO 6, said despite expecting a bit of rain, the scale of it was a bit of a shock. "We put the window wipers on full tilt, and we still couldn't move the water, couldn't see where we were going. "It was a good challenge," In stage 2, Macdonald pirouetted down the road at 120kmh, which led to a bit of self-critique, but some keen driving pushed him ahead of the pack. He said he had himself a ball of a day. "The roads are magic. It was just so fun. You can't beat a Southland road when the rally gods are on your side," he said. To take out his first outright win was a great feeling. Macdonald said it was a special weekend with a lot of history behind it. Now he and his team could look forward to campaigning in the North Island in the New Zealand Championship with a lot of confidence.
Otago Daily Times
24-06-2025
- Automotive
- Otago Daily Times
Memorial rally returns to Southland roads in August
The Barry Robinson Memorial Wyndham Rally returns to the roads of the area on Saturday, August 2. The rally, named after the Mokoreta farmer who was a very successful rally driver, including finishing runner-up in the 1983 New Zealand Rally Championship, was established by the Eastern Southland Car Club in 2023. In addition to remembering Robinson, this year's event will also mark 50 years since the club held its first special stage rally, a Gore-based event in March 1975. There are slight changes to the route this year with an extra special stage increasing the length of high-speed competition to 137.15km. Many of the stages will be contested in a different sequence this year. As usual, the rally is based around the township of Wyndham, 45km east of Invercargill and 25km south of Gore. It will start at the MLT Three Rivers Hotel in Redan St, Wyndham at 9am on Saturday, August 2, with the first special stage at Tuturau over 21.15km. Wyndham Valley, over 17.49km, is the second stage before the 28.12km Waikawa Valley stage. Pine Bush, over 25.99km is next with a new stage, the 13.95km Graham Rd, next before the final 30.45km Fortification stage. "Having driven the route twice with clerk of the course Craig Jessop, as we did checks and alterations for the Rally Safe system, the new formation of stages drive really well and I am sure competitors will enjoy it," assistant course clerk Roger Laird said. "Craig has done a huge amount of work in creating the new route." The first car is expected to cross the finish line back at the MLT Three Rivers Hotel in Wyndham just before 3.30pm. During the day there will be three service parks — the first in Wyndham after stage one and two in Tokanui, about 44km from Wyndham, the first after stage three and then again after stage five. The event will be round four of the Mainland Rally Championship, round four of the H6 Cup Rally Series and the opening round of the 2025-26 Eastern Southland Car Club Rally Championship Cup. Sponsors this year include Traffic Management Services and Yuasa Batteries, with support from the Southland District Council, Gore District Council and the landowners on the rally route. The event prizegiving will take place in Gore at the MLT Croydon Lodge and the winning crew will be awarded the Barry Robinson Memorial Trophy. The leading Otago Sports Car Club driver in the event receives the Glen Shirlaw Memorial Trophy, while the best crew in class from the Central Otago Motorsport Club win the Barry Robinson Trophy. If no crew finishes, it will go to the top driver from the club. —APL
