Two Kerry co-drivers in action in New Zealand this weekend
Two Kerry co-drivers will contest this weekend’s Otago Rally on New Zealand’s South Island.
Noel O’Sullivan is making the long trip to the Southern Hemisphere where he will join Duagh native Noel Moloney who has been living there for many years.
The rally is based in the city of Dunedin and is the first round of the 2024 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship.
O’Sullivan will co-drive for five-time World Rally Championship event winner Kris Meeke in a Ford Escort Mk2 in the historic element of the event,
It will be their first visit to the famed Otago Rally, but one that Meeke is already looking forward to with great excitement.
“Heading to New Zealand will be a different challenge for me but it’s one I’m really excited for,” said O’Sullivan.
“The furthest I’ve competed away from home would probably be the Azores rally back in 2015 so this will top that for sure.”
“The rally itself has 16 stages which none are repeated with the longest stage being 42K so it’s far from a holiday.
“Getting back out with Kris is always a pleasure and hopefully we can bring home a solid result.”
The event also incorporates the International Classic Otago Rally, for pre-1982, 2WD cars. This event has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception in 1997, to the point where it is the leading event of its type in the Southern Hemisphere.
Moloney, a regular on the New Zealand Rally scene has signed up for this section of the event. He will partner with local driver Brendan Wadsworth in a Toyota Starlet on the rally.
“Brendan needed a co-driver so I jumped at the chance to do my favourite rally in New Zealand,” said Moloney.
“I am not planning to do the New Zealand Rally Championship this year due to work commitments. I will be back in the car, mid-season with Quentin Palmer to attack the North Island Rally Sprint championship. So this one is a one-off.
“We will be in a Toyota Starlet 1600 competing in the All-Comers class so should be a bit of fun.
“I am looking forward to catching up with Noel O’Sullivan too – good to see another Kerry man at Otago.”
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