Catherine Wellington

New Zealand rally stars Hayden Paddon and John Kennard will celebrate some important milestones this weekend.

Following his historic top result for a New Zealand rally driver, Hayden Paddon heads to Poland this weekend for his sixth 2015 World Rally Championship event of 2015, focused on his game plan of a top five-finish.

Auckland-based Ben Hunt mastered the four challenging Rally Gisborne stages, including the infamous Motu Rd, to win the New Zealand Rally Championship's fourth round on Saturday.

Greg Murphy's name, synonymous with circuit racing, is about to be muddied, as he takes a slippery slide into the realm of gravel.

The Rally of Otago rumbles into and around Dunedin this weekend, so Catherine Pattison has put together a guide to help you get out there in your gumboots and make the most of the gravel-slinging action.

The global driving phenomenon that is Ken Block arrived in Dunedin this week - accompanied by 12 team members for the Rally of Otago. He talks to Catherine Pattison about life as a hoonigan.

For any Top Gear fans feeling bereft at the show's abrupt demise, a new show - Mud, Sweat and Gears - may just fill the void.

While some might consider Nobuhiro ''Monster'' Tajima unlucky for crashing his Super 86 hillclimb car mere kilometres into the 14.5km course, luck was on his side yesterday.

Highlands Motorsport Park owner Tony Quinn had his first date with a new girlfriend yesterday.

The Race to the Sky returns to Central Otago this weekend - a revival joyously greeted by motorheads - but if petrol doesn't flow freely through your veins, here is Otago Daily Times motoring correspondent Catherine Pattison's guide to clue you up.

Eight-time Race to the Sky champion Nobuhiro ''Monster'' Tajima will have plenty of well-known former and new competitors trying to prevent him from claiming another title next month.

The Otago Rally entry list looks a lot more luminous after star driver Ken Block announced yesterday that he will contest the May 9-10 Dunedin-based event.

Most little girls want a pony. Aged 3, Catherine Pattison was lucky enough to be given one by her grandfather. The pony was small, white, named Porridge and she loved him. Leaving home 14 years later she farewelled her four-legged friends and hasn't been back in the saddle much since.

Professional Wanaka athlete Jess Simson has a distinctive approach to racing - one that could put fellow competitors off their stride as she zooms by with a smile and cheery greeting.

Hayden Paddon is about to have his driving adaptability put to the ultimate test when he faces contrasting circumstances - changing his style from combatting Sweden's cold to suiting Mexico's searing heat.

Double defending Challenge Wanaka champion Dylan McNeice has a patriotic outlook on how he would like Sunday's triathlon to pan out.

A lot has changed for Wanaka athlete Dougal Allan since he claimed third place in last year's Challenge Wanaka in his debut attempt at the long-distance triathlon. He told Catherine Pattison how his circumstances in the past 12 months have allowed him the ideal preparation for Sunday's 226km race.