The opportunity came about after top New Zealand rally driver Hayden Paddon reached out to Spencer Bourne and offered to mentor him, with Ashley Forest the first step towards plans for Bourne to compete in next year\u2019s Otago Rally.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just really out of the blue,\u201d Bourne said. \u201cI was just at home on the couch watching some TV and just all of a sudden got a call from Hayden and he was like, \u2018Hey, I\u2019ve got this opportunity for you, would you want to do it?\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Bourne immediately called his mother, Peggy Bourne, who he said had remained supportive of rallying despite losing her husband following the 2003 crash.<\/p>\n
\u201cDespite what happened to her and how long it\u2019s been, she\u2019s always appreciated the sport and she\u2019s really happy that Hayden is giving me the kind of opportunity that Dad would have given me if he was still here,\u201d Bourne said.<\/p>\n
Spencer Bourne in action in the car with the iconic numberplate.<\/p>\n
While the significance of following his father\u2019s path is not lost on Bourne, he said the chance to drive a rally car also carries a deeper personal meaning.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I had to put it in one word, honestly, vindication, I guess,\u201d Bourne said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLike this would have been my whole life if Dad was still around, so it kind of feels a bit like what should have been.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bourne has already had the chance to work through some of his nerves during a testing day with Paddon last weekend, but expects the prospect of a big crowd could bring them back.<\/p>\n
\u201cGenerally I\u2019m just really humbled and honoured to be given this opportunity that Hayden\u2019s given me,\u201d Bourne said. \u201cI was able to work out a lot of the nerves that I had from when he offered it to me when we had our testing day last weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo I\u2019m feeling really good, but once I see the big crowds, maybe some nerves will start to show again.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bourne will have several runs at Ashley Forest and, rather than setting himself a target time, is determined to savour the experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cHonestly, the time doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m there to enjoy it and experience it and just give it my best shot.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe only goal that I have is to enjoy myself and have fun, and that\u2019s the only goal that Hayden gave for me as well, so as long as I\u2019m doing that then I\u2019m winning.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two-day Ashley Forest Rallysprint will also feature Paddon, who has won the last five editions of the event, in action in his Hyundai i20 AP4++.<\/p>\n
Paddon is chasing a new record on the 1.7km course, having set the current benchmark of 52s in 2023.<\/p>\n