Chris Subritzky & Jeremy Tagg

Meet the Competitors – Chris Subritzky & Jeremy Tagg

📍 Auckland & North Shore
🚗 BMW 130i – Class D

For Chris Subritzky, rallying has been part of life since the very beginning.

With parents who both competed and organised events through the Hibiscus Coast Motorsport Club, Chris attended his very first rally at just three weeks old. By the age of three he was already wearing out the tyres on his pedal car attempting "handbrake turns just like Dad," before competing in his first Motorsport New Zealand event at just 12 years old.

After spending many years competing in Clubsport events, Chris's proudest achievement was winning his club's Overall Championship in 2006/07. More recently, after more than a decade away from rallying, he returned to the sport and celebrated a class podium at the Maramarua Clubmans Rally in only his second event in the BMW.

His first rally also produced one of his favourite memories.

"Driving without pace notes, my co-driver and I spent an 800-metre straight debating whether the corner at the end went left or right. He'd driven the stage before and swore it went left. To me it looked like it went right... and it did!"

When asked what might surprise people about him, Chris's answer says a lot about the way he approaches motorsport.

"I'm actually not a particularly competitive person. The season I spent chasing the club Overall Championship was probably my least enjoyable. A great day is throwing the car around, having a fun battle with someone of a similar pace and driving the car back onto the trailer in one piece."

So why Rally Taumarunui?

"The roads. While working behind the Targa Bambina field doing results, I got to see many of the gravel roads around Taumarunui and thought they would be fantastic to compete on. Now there's an event and I have a car ready to do it in, so it was a no-brainer."

He's also looking forward to what he calls a little "Throttle Therapy."

"From what I remember, the roads should be perfect for lifting away the winter blues for a day."

Alongside Chris is co-driver Jeremy Tagg, who has been part of Chris's life since he was a toddler.

"Jeremy used to be 'Uncle Jeremy' to me as he was a family friend when I was growing up. He's incredibly laid back, always encouraging others, happy to help anyone, and absolutely fearless in a rally car."

Chris sums up his philosophy on rallying beautifully.

"I love the sport, I love sharing it with others, and I love seeing people get involved at any level. There's nothing better than taking someone new for a ride on an awesome gravel road and seeing their reaction. Rallying is the ultimate pick-me-up, which is why I call the BMW my 'Throttle Therapist'. I may not be the fastest, bravest or most flamboyant driver, but I'll be enjoying every moment on the stages."

Please join us in welcoming Chris and Jeremy to Rally Taumarunui, and be sure to give them a wave when you see the BMW 130i 'Throttle Therapist' out on the stages! 👋🏁

📸 Photo credits: Gary Boyd