Brendo impresses on international debut

Up-and-coming Victorian rally driver, Brendan Reeves, has drawn plenty of positives from his first international event, the Rally of Whangarei.


Held in the north island of New Zealand, and as part of both the New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific rally championships, Reeves contested the event in a Ford Fiesta.

Not only was it his first event overseas, it was also the first event he had driven in a front-wheel drive car, adding to the learning curve for he and co-driver, Rhianon Smyth.

“We are pleased with the pace we had, considering it was the first time in the car and the first time I had rallied a front wheel drive,” Brendo said after the event.

Despite his unfamiliarity with the stages and the car, Reeves was clearly the fastest Fiesta driver in the event, and looked set for a top ten finish in the New Zealand Rally Championship component.

However, a flat tyre early on the second day resulted in an electrical problem that sidelined the car for three stages.

Once the car was repaired, he rejoined the rally, and once again set the pace amongst the Fiestas.

“We were very happy with how the team worked out, considering we only met them all on the Tuesday night before the rally,” Brendo added.

With a taste for international competition, and a new love affair with the sensational New Zealand roads, Brendo is hoping to return to New Zealand later in the year for another drive in the Fiesta Trophy.