McMillan aims for fast, consistent run at Wyndham Rally

Invercargill driver Mark McMillan is keen for a repeat at the MLT Barry Robinson Memorial Wyndham Rally this Saturday after he showed real pace in last year’s event.

McMillan was having his first run in his Subaru Impreza WRX STi last year when he scorched through the first two stages to sit in third place only to clip a water table and pick up a puncture which cost him time. He recovered to set the second fastest time in the last stage to show what might have been if he had got a trouble-free run.

“I prefer rallies with notes and Wyndham was a blind event but I thought it was quite an enjoyable rally. It was good to do a blind rally, it was a bit more relaxed, said McMillan recently as he prepares for this year’s event.

“They were good roads and quite readable and you could see quite a way ahead. There were both public roads and forestry so it was a very good mix.”

McMillan was contesting the New Zealand Rally Challenge Championship this season but has had a tough time in the first three rounds. “I fully intended to do the North Island rounds but we have been fast, but not consistent. We received some penalties at Otago and overshot a corner during the Southland Rally. We have had a bit of bad luck and are down on points so won’t go north.”

“Murray Wright will co-drive for me. He does a lot of work on the car and has been running the service crew for me. I am really looking forward to taking him for a ride in this car and excited about competing in the rally again this year.”

Given a good run this year Mark McMillan will definitely be a factor at the pointy end of the field.

The rally has the support of the Mataura Licensing Trust, Traffic Management Services, Yuasa Battery plus that of Rayonier Matariki Forests, the Southland District Council, Gore District Council, Prime Range Fresh Shop Lorneville, Matt McRae and the landowners on the rally route.

This year’s rally will again be centred on the township of Wyndham, 45 kilometres east of Invercargill and 25km south of Gore. It will start at the MLT Three Rivers Hotel in Redan Street, Wyndham at 9.15am on Saturday 10 August from where competitors will tackle five Special Stages with only minimal changes to last year’s route.

The rally then ends back at the MLT Three Rivers Hotel in Wyndham with the first car due at 3.47pm after 128km of Special Stage competition linked by 126km of touring stage mileage.