Rally legend inspires young kiwis
Michèle Mouton, one of the greatest names in world rallying will be an awing inspiration to New Zealand talent as she contests the same roads used in the weekends rally championship event.
Rally of Otago, the second round of the Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship will feature the world’s most decorated female rally driver – contesting the Dunlop classic event.
Winner of four World Rally Championship events in the early 1980’s, Mouton twice featured as the leading driver at Rally New Zealand in 1982 and 1983 - before retiring in each instance.
As an iconic part of New Zealand rally history, the 57-year old French native is the evidential proof other female drivers can do well, believes championship contender Emma Gilmour:
“Women can do it in this sport and at a world level – so it is definitely achievable. It’s great to have Michèle here; it’s a real coup for the Otago rally. It’s fantastic to have someone of such high calibre and so famous in world rallying to be here as part of it.”
Mouton will be driving a Ford Escort RS 1800, paired with her WRC winning co-driver Fabrizia Pons for the first time since 1985. For Saturday afternoon’s superstage, Mouton will do two pre-competition runs in the Malcolm Stewart restored Group B Audi Quattro – the first time the pair have been in such a car since 1985.
“People have followed what I did – especially here [in New Zealand] I have to say,” said Mouton, at the pre-event car show.
“You like driving and you have the opportunity to drive, that is what happened to me and then you try to do your best because you like it. So I hope I can be an inspiration and sometimes I hope I am not – young women like to drive because they like to drive and there is space for them in this sport.”
The two-day rally departs from Dunedin’s Southern Cross Hotel at 8am Saturday morning, completing six stages to the south before returning to a Superstage through part of the industrial area.
The action resumes on Sunday from 7:15am, five stages to the south and north of Dunedin bring the teams to the Whare Flat forest west of the city for a final 13km test. The remaining cars then return for a 2:30pm champagne finish in the Octagon.
Ends.
About Michèle Mouton
French rally driver
- Winner of four WRC rally events for Audi (1981 San Remo, 1982 Greece, Brazil and Portugal)
- Runner-up in the 1982 World Rally Championship
- First and only woman to win a World Rally Championship rally
- Competed in Rally New Zealand 1982 and 1983 – leading both times before retiring
- Organises the annual Race of Champions stadium race
- First and only woman to win Pikes Peak international hillclimb
- Only done three classic rallies since retiring in 1986
- The first special stage rally she has contested since 1986
- Reuniting with original co-driver Fabrizia Pons since 1985 and the Audi WRC days
For further information:
www.otagorally.co.nz
VANTAGE ALUMINIUM JOINERY 2008 NEW ZEALAND RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
1. |
12-13 April |
Rally Wairarapa |
2. |
10-11 May |
Rally Otago |
3. |
07-08 June |
Rally of Whangarei * |
4. |
26-27 July |
Rally of Hawke’s Bay |
5. |
28-31 August |
Rally New Zealand ** |
6. |
20-21 September |
Rally Nelson |
* FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship
** FIA World Rally Championship
For any enquiries relating to the Vantage Aluminium Joinery 2007 New Zealand Rally Championship, please contact:
Laurie Brenssell
Championship Promotions Co-ordinator
0274 333 667
laurie.b@xtra.co.nz
Lance Hastie
Rally Publicist
021 329 909
lance@inspire.net.nz
