ROLE REVERSAL AT THE CATLINS COAST RALLY

The sight of Emma Gilmour at the wheel of her Subaru Impreza with partner and co-driver Glenn Macneall in the co-driver's seat is a familiar one to rally fans.

However, during Saturday's Catlins Coast Rally it will be Macneall at the wheel with Gilmour sitting in the co-driver's seat in a classic case of role reversal.

Macneall has been to the pinnacle of world rallying, having contested the World Rally Championship as co-driver to fellow Australian Chris Atkinson. He has also co-driven for Japanese driver Toshiro Arai in the Asia-Pacific Championship and for Gilmour on many occasions in her New Zealand Rally Championship campaigns. However this will be Macneall's first event as a driver.

The drive came about after Macneall "opened his mouth" after a round of the Asia-Pacific Rally Championship in Japan recently. "I have always said one day I would like to do a rally and I mentioned it when we were in Japan. Craig Cormack of Gore, an Eastern Southland Car Club member and part of the MRF Team in the championship, was there and came home and organised a car for me." Therefore Macneall will make his competition debut behind the wheel of a Toyota Starlet this weekend.

"It's all really thanks to Craig. Catlins is a favourite rally because of the roads and the great people. Roger Laird (these days the Assistant Clerk Of The Course) has helped us out a heap in the past and we have been there and made notes and been the zero car."

While he has been to the top of the sport as a co-driver the closest Macneall has got to rally driving is in an old Mitsubishi EVO that he and Gilmour had as a practice car. "We used to practice in a quarry and when Emma was finished I would have a play at the end of the day. I would always give up before I damaged it."

Macneall stresses the rally will be all about having fun and Gilmour concurs.

"I'm looking forward to coming back to the grass roots level and having fun," she say's. "It will be more relaxing." Like Macneall,

Catlins is a favourite with Gilmour and for much the same reasons. "People like Roger Laird and the organising committee are great to deal with."

For Gilmour, currently second in this year's New Zealand Rally Championship, sitting in the co-driver's seat is a return to her first forays in the sport. Asked how she will treat the situation she laughs. "I better take my seasick tablets. I'll probably give him some tips. He always keeps telling me to go faster."

The Catlins Coast Rally starts from Owaka Motors in Owaka at 9am and features eight Special Stages with many changes to past year's.

An exciting new Super Special Stage at the Riverside Reserve in the heart of Balclutha is the final stage of the rally, providing excellent spectator viewing. The first car is expected to cross the finish line in Glasgow Street, Balclutha just after 3.40pm.

This year's event is Round 3 of the Mainland Rally Championship and the third and final round of the Laird Motorsport Southern Rally Series.

The event is supported by the Rosebank Lodge in Balclutha, MWH, SouthRoads, the Clutha Licensing Trust and Allied Petroleum Owaka Motors while support from Century Batteries will allow the rally to be televised in the near future.

on behalf of the Laird Motorsport Southern Rally Series

For further comment: Roger Laird - 03 208 5247/0274 368 876