Ray started driving in car club events in the 1970s then did his first rally in 1974, in an 850cc Mini.
His highlights include a first in class in the 1979 Motogard Rally with a 1275 GT Mini.
He was first in class three years in a row on Rally NZ in 1984, 1985 and 1986 in a 1300cc Toyota Starlet.
The change to 4WD and the 1600cc Mazda 323 produced a second overall and first New Zealander on the 1988 Rally NZ and seventh in 1989. In 1988 Ray also finished second in the first FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship series.
In 1989 and 1990 Ray drove a Ford Laser Turbo in the NZ Production Car Championship for the Ford dealer team.
In 1990 Ray debuted the Mazda 323 GTX at the WRC in Perth.
Ray is driving for the Stewart Motorsport team in their Audi S2 Coupe Quattro.
Ray Wilson - 1995 Audi S2 Coupe Quattro
Ray started driving in car club events in the 1970s then did his first rally in 1974, in an 850cc Mini.
His highlights include a first in class in the 1979 Motogard Rally with a 1275 GT Mini.
He was first in class three years in a row on Rally NZ in 1984, 1985 and 1986 in a 1300cc Toyota Starlet.
The change to 4WD and the 1600cc Mazda 323 produced a second overall and first New Zealander on the 1988 Rally NZ and seventh in 1989. In 1988 Ray also finished second in the first FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship series.
In 1989 and 1990 Ray drove a Ford Laser Turbo in the NZ Production Car Championship for the Ford dealer team.
In 1990 Ray debuted the Mazda 323 GTX at the WRC in Perth.
Ray is driving for the Stewart Motorsport team in their Audi S2 Coupe Quattro.
1995 Audi S2 Coupe Quattro:
When Malcolm Stewart passed away a few years ago from motor neuron disease (MND) Sue Stewart and the team decided to return to rallying to honour him and to promote awareness of neurological disorders and in particular MND.
The car chosen was the Audi Quattro – a car made famous in NZ rallying by both the factory works team and Malcolm.
The car you see here today is a Group A, 1995 Audi S2 Coupe Quattro. 2200cc, turbo charged, about 320 hp, 6 speed gearbox and the famous Quattro 4WD. It was built in NZ by the team for the 2016 rally season and debuted here at Leadfoot last year.