Thomson the dark horse in 2026 championship
Dylan Thomson might well be the dark horse for not only this weekend’s season-opening Central Machine Hire Otago Rally but also the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship as a whole.
The perennial 2WD champion has secured the car that won the last two national championships under the driving of Ben Hunt – now the Palmside Skoda Fabia Rally 2 car will be in the hands of the talented Christchurch-based peddler.
With Hunt enjoying retirement having stepped away at the conclusion of the 2025 season, Thomson joins a list of talented young drivers that includes Robbie Stokes, Jack Stokes and Jack Hawkeswood chasing a break-through championship in 2026.
While all four drivers could lay a claim to being one to beat, Thomson has already displayed the ability to put together a championship, to minimise risks, maximise bad days by salvaging the most points possible – all the small things that when added up have a major impact on the points table.
A decade ago, Thomson contested his first rally and since then he has been building for this moment – a chance to compete in the very best machinery against the best talent in the country.
“I’ve really been waiting all my life for this moment,” an excited Thomson said. “The car is amazing to drive, and I can’t wait to compete in an iconic event and on some of the best rally roads anywhere in the world.”
Thomson claimed a comfortable win in the lead-up to this event when he won the Westland Rally a fortnight ago.
“We were able to build throughout that event, and I felt like we were making great strides by the time we got to the end of it,” he explained.
“We will have some serious competition at Otago, but I feel I’m capable of matching it with the other contenders.”
With the highly regarded Bayden Thomson acting as co-driver, the Thomson cousins will be ones to watch when the rally begins with a ceremonial opening at the Octagon on Friday night and two days of competition over the weekend.
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