The Trusthouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa certainly has got tongues wagging.....well reminiscing actually. All thanks to the inaugural Malcolm Stewart Classic Rally.
Stories from the first Wairarapa events in 1975 and 1976, competing on some of the iconic Wairarapa roads as a part of the Heatway Rally of New Zealand in the 70’s, through to the more recent events of the 80s and 90s, have all fired the imagination of competitors, spectators and organisers alike.
As well as fuelling the memories, it appears to have fuelled a few cars as well, with a very good entry list starting to develop. At least 20 classic cars from all over the country have been enticed out to play, including the likes of Brent Rawstron from the far south (driving his own car for once).
They will be joined by those chasing trophies in the Geartech Automotive Central Region Rally Series, and the modern machinery of the Vantage Aluminium New Zealand Rally Championship, to make a field totalling 75 cars, so far. “We are getting more enquiries and entries in each day”, says rally secretary Bruce Sollitt.
Certainly the response to the Malcolm Stewart Classic rally has been tremendous. The response from people offering information, photos, assistance, and the competitors wanting to take part, has really shown the high regard that Malcolm Stewart is held in by the motorsport community nation wide.
“Malcolm would see this as a great honour”, says his wife Sue. “He would be very pleased about the event. It would have meant a lot to him”.
Having started rallying in 1972, Malcolm competed on many of the Wairarapa roads in sprints and in rallies. Living on a 2600 acre sheep and beef farm out from Dannevirke, the roads of the Wairarapa became almost a home event for him. “He certainly treated the Wairarapa Rally as his home event, he knew so many of those roads so well”, says Sue.
From this connection, Sue Stewart and Rally Wairarapa are delighted to announce that a major trophy has been commissioned, and that the Malcolm Stewart Trophy will be presented to the winner of the Malcolm Stewart Classic Rally each year. A miniature will be for competitors to keep, but the major trophy will be contested and engraved annually.
In conjunction with the Otago Classic Rally, the Classic Challenge Trophy will also be decided. Points from Otago see Derek Ayson and Regan Ross as the top contenders to take the trophy. However it is the car rather than the drivers that is third. Piero Liatti won’t be in Wairarapa, although Brent Rawstron will be, in the mighty Rossendale Escort.
Certainly this year will be a festival of trophies at Rally Wairarapa. Apart from the classic rally celebrations, with this rally being the final round of the New Zealand Rally Championship, the winners and losers at the top of sport will also be decided. The spectacle and excitement will be thrilling to say the least.
