Graves Leads the Way Ahead of Home Rally

The Barry Robinson Memorial Rally Southland, Round 3 of the Brian Green Property Group NZ Rally Championship (NZRC), comes to the roads of the south this weekend and the best news of all is that a young Southlander leads the championship points for co-drivers going into the round.

Twenty-three-year-old Hayden Graves from Gore co-drives for Jack Stokes of Waikuku in a Skoda Fabia Rally 2 evo and the duo lead the NZRC after winning in Otago and then finishing second in Canterbury, albeit just .2 of a second behind the winner.

It is tight at the top of the championship however with Hayden just two points clear of second placed Jason Farmer in the co-driver standings.

Graves is looking forward to his home event. "There is a long way to go in the championship and it is tight. We just need to bring it home, be consistent and focus on the task ahead."

Hayden is the son of Andrew Graves who is both a top driver and co-driver. Andrew has had success in both roles and has driven and co-driven in NZRC events. In 2024 father and son combined to win their respective titles in the NZ Rally Challenge. They also won the 2023 Barry Robinson Memorial Wyndham Rally together.

"Dad is my biggest idol," says Hayden. "He has got me to where I am today. I started co-driving for him when I was twelve and he has given me confidence and plenty of learnings. In 2024 we won the NZ Rally Challenge together and that got me an opportunity on the big stage. I love competing with him and against him but he is always my biggest supporter."

As Hayden prepares to head into the rally this weekend, he spent last week at the Elite Motorsport Academy Camp in Dunedin being one of just eight motorsport competitors chosen for this year's intake. "It was a tough week, a big learning curve," he said. "We were given a lot of information that I can take forward into my motorsport."

Graves, currently residing in Cromwell, was also a promising Southland age group rugby player and still plays for Alexandra when he has a break from rallying.

All the cars and drivers in the Barry Robinson Memorial Rally Southland will be at Invercargill Central from 4pm on Friday 17 July where the opportunity exists to get autographs and see the cars close up before the Ceremonial Start at 6pm.

The following day the cars leave Wyndham at 8.30am before tackling seven high speed Special Stages before the event concludes at the Ascot Park Hotel in Invercargill.