Brendan locked and loaded for Rally of Otago

Brendan Reeves will fulfil a long held dream to compete at Dunedin’s Otago Rally when the event kicks off in April this year.

Reeves, and co-driver Rhianon Gelsomino, will drive a Stokes Motorsport Ford Fiesta AP4+ in the event which attracts a strong international field.

Rally Otago is a popular event for classic rally cars but it is also the first round of the New Zealand Rally Championship for modern vehicles, and it’s that series that Reeves will contest.

“I’m really excited to be teaming up with Stokes Motorsport for the event,” Reeves said.

“Rally Otago has always been a ‘bucket list’ rally for me, so it will be great to finally compete in an event that many people consider to be the best in the southern hemisphere.

“Brian (Stokes) debuted the car at Rally Coromandel last year and his team have made some improvements to it over the break.  Brian is a former NZ Rally Champion so he knows what it takes to win events and I know I’ll be driving a well-prepared car.”

Reeves and Gelsomino have only committed to the first round of the NZ Rally Championship to date but will make a decision on whether or not they contest the whole series after Otago.

Lock and Load Transport have once again shown their support of Reeves, and will continue their sponsorship of him this year.

Also sporting Lock and Load Transport livery will be Phil Thomas and Alex Gelsomino who will contest the event in Thomas’ immaculate Ford Escort Mk 2.

Rally Otago is based in Dunedin in New Zealand’s south island and will be held on the weekend of April 13 and 14.