Mark Bradly

📍 Papakura
🚗 Datsun 1200 SSS – Class A (1298cc)

For Mark Bradly, Rally Taumarunui is much more than another event on the calendar—it's a homecoming.

Mark's rally journey began during his apprenticeship as a mechanic.

"I first got involved in rallying back when I was an apprentice mechanic. I was helping Lew Palmer and Gavin Ritchie go rallying, and that experience opened the door for me. What started as lending a hand in the shed slowly turned into a passion for the sport itself (and a career!). Those early days taught me the foundations: hard work, attention to detail, and the thrill of seeing a car you helped build take on the stages."

One of Mark's proudest rally memories came right here in Taumarunui.

"My proudest achievement has to be finishing 12th overall in the Taumarunui Rally - especially doing it in a 1300cc car. On paper, I shouldn't have been anywhere near some of the cars I managed to beat, but that's the beauty of rallying. When everything clicks, the car becomes bigger than the spec sheet."

So why come back?

"The roads in Taumarunui are incredible for rallying. I actually grew up in Taumarunui and went to school there. Entering this rally isn't just about competition for me, it's about coming back to the roads that taught me to love motorsport in the first place. There's something pretty special about pushing hard on roads you've known your whole life."

Mark will be piloting his Datsun 1200 SSS, proving once again that determination, skill, and a well-driven small-capacity car can take on the best.

Please join us in welcoming Mark back home to Rally Taumarunui, and be sure to give him a wave when you see him out on the stages! 👋🏁