POPULAR RALLY DRAWS QUALITY FIELD

One of this country's best rally drivers, Andrew Hawkeswood, leads this year's seedings in one of the most exciting cars to ever appear at the Catlins Coast Rally - an Audi Quattro replica. "The car is great to drive and good to watch while the Catlins roads are awesome," say's Hawkeswood. This is Hawkeswood's second Catlins appearance after he drove a Nissan Bluebird Turbo in the event four year's ago. "I crashed it, then I broke it," he laughs. Hawkeswood, currently based in Alexandra, was a regular frontrunner in the New Zealand Rally Championship until 2004, finishing runner-up in his final year. Since that time he has tackled various events including campaigns at Race To The Sky and the infamous Pikes Peak Hillclimb in the US.

Glenn Inkster, currently second in the Open Class of the New Zealand Rally Championship, is seeded at two in his Mitsubishi EVO 6.5. Inkster, formerly of Pukekohe but now of Timaru, is fresh from what he terms as his career highlight - winning three Special Stages outright at the recent Rally Wairarapa round of the National Championship.

Regan Ross of Kaikoura is seeded at three in his EVO 9 ahead of Dunedin driver Blair Sutherland in a Mitsubishi EVO 5. A successful circuit racer, Sutherland has been impressive in his newly acquired EVO. The fifth and sixth seeds, Dean Bond and Paul Cross are locked in a tight battle for Laird Motorsport Southern Rally Series honours.

Next up is a crowd favourite, Derek Ayson of Clinton, in his Ford Escort RS FJ20. Ayson, a past two-time Mainland Rally Series Champion and also a former Southern Rally Series Champion, finished a superb third in his old Nissan powered 2-wheel-drive Escort two year's ago.

Former Catlins Rally winner, Deane Buist of Christchurch, is next in his EVO powered Toyota Corolla while Christchurch driver Robert McCallum in another Nissan powered Ford Escort and former Laird Motorsport Southern Rally Series Champion Andrew Graves in a Mitsubishi EVO 3 round out a powerful top ten.

Interesting entrants include father and son Les and Matt Summerfield of Rangiora. Les, a former Mainland Series Champion and a past winner of this event, will be at the wheel of his Subaru Impreza while his son Matt will compete in the Skoda Diesel in which he is contesting the New Zealand Rally Championship. Summerfield junior made his rally debut at Catlins just two years ago.

Trevor Crowe, a well known Canterbury competitor in both rallies and circuit racing, will bring his V8 powered Skoda south while Australian Keith Callinan crosses the Tasman for his second crack at the Catlins Rally.

A late entry has been received from former WRC co-driver, Australian Glenn Macneall. In New Zealand motorsport Macneall is well known as the co-driver for his partner Emma Gilmour in the New Zealand Rally Championship. This weekend in a classic role reversal Macneall will drive a leased Toyota Starlet while Gilmour sits alongside in the co-drivers seat.

Other Eastern Southland drivers in the event include Mitsubishi EVO drivers Craig Abernethy and Gus Osborne of Gore plus Graham McRae, Kevin Laird, Carl Morris, Jamie Wishart and Craig Cormack also from Gore. Nigel Marshall and Richard Clark of Wyndham are among the entries as is West Otago driver Jim McDonald of Tapanui.

The South Otago contingent is strong with Duncan McCrostie, Barry Mills - ninth two year's ago at Catlins after an amazing performance in his 2-wheel-drive Hillman Avenger - Mike Verdoner, Paul Goatley, Steve Morris and Michael Gunn in the line-up.