It may not have been the car Malcolm Stewart would've picked to race had he been alive today, but it's a poignant way for his wife Sue and his former service crew to commemorate the legendary rally driver. And next weekend they're taking it on the road for its Hawke's Bay debut in the Rally Hawke's Bay.
In 2010, one year after Mr Stewart passed away from motor neuron disease, Mrs Stewart purchased a 1986 Audi Quattro Coupe for $5000 on Trade Me.
The idea was simple: gut it, rebuild it and race it in the rally category for classic and historic cars.
Mr Stewart's old crew, based in his former hometown Dannevirke, was primarily responsible for fitting out the rally car, and roped in help from Palmerston North motorsport fabricator Tim Lloyd.
Former co-driver Mike Fletcher would resume his position in the passenger seat, while long-time friend and competitor Ray Wilson would take the wheel.
The crew had already raced the coupe in four events around the country, and managed to finish two, including the Wairarapa event in May where the classic category was named in the rally driver's honour."Our first event was in Greymouth last year. It finished," Mrs Stewart said with a laugh.Not so lucky at the following races in Otago and then Auckland where the engine "fizzed" on the second day.
"We had four engines when we started and we're on to our third," she said. "We're hoping it'll work properly [next weekend]. It's not serious stuff, the car's not fast, we're just doing it for fun."The upcoming Hawke's Bay race, event five in the New Zealand Rally Championship, was more special to the crew than the others. "It was Malcolm's stomping ground," Mrs Stewart said. "We're all from Hawke's Bay, his crew. So it's a big deal for us."Dannevirke mechanic Ian Stewart was part of the team to get the coupe race-ready. He had worked with the husband and wife duo as a mechanic for 10 years. That ended when Mr Stewart passed away, which was why he enjoyed being part of the new project.
"The big thing is still being involved," he said. "It's good to continue to do what we were doing. It does mean a lot. It's almost like giving back for what he's given us."
But retaining the bond between the old crew wasn't the only motivation behind Mrs Stewart's project. The signage on the car and service vehicle promoted two national organisations dedicated to helping those living with a neurological disease.
Sue Giddons from Neurological Foundation of New Zealand said they were "thrilled" and "very humbled" by the gesture. It helped raise the foundation's profile at a local level, "and that's huge for us," she said.
Mrs Stewart would be floating around behind the scenes during next weekend's race, a position she became well accustomed to during her husband's 38-year career.
Mr Stewart raced 29 times in the Rally of New Zealand's 36 years, as well as championship races overseas and was dubbed by World Rally Championship as "New Zealand's most prolific competitor"
In 2010, one year after Mr Stewart passed away from motor neuron disease, Mrs Stewart purchased a 1986 Audi Quattro Coupe for $5000 on Trade Me.
The idea was simple: gut it, rebuild it and race it in the rally category for classic and historic cars.
Mr Stewart's old crew, based in his former hometown Dannevirke, was primarily responsible for fitting out the rally car, and roped in help from Palmerston North motorsport fabricator Tim Lloyd.
Former co-driver Mike Fletcher would resume his position in the passenger seat, while long-time friend and competitor Ray Wilson would take the wheel.
The crew had already raced the coupe in four events around the country, and managed to finish two, including the Wairarapa event in May where the classic category was named in the rally driver's honour."Our first event was in Greymouth last year. It finished," Mrs Stewart said with a laugh.Not so lucky at the following races in Otago and then Auckland where the engine "fizzed" on the second day.
"We had four engines when we started and we're on to our third," she said. "We're hoping it'll work properly [next weekend]. It's not serious stuff, the car's not fast, we're just doing it for fun."The upcoming Hawke's Bay race, event five in the New Zealand Rally Championship, was more special to the crew than the others. "It was Malcolm's stomping ground," Mrs Stewart said. "We're all from Hawke's Bay, his crew. So it's a big deal for us."Dannevirke mechanic Ian Stewart was part of the team to get the coupe race-ready. He had worked with the husband and wife duo as a mechanic for 10 years. That ended when Mr Stewart passed away, which was why he enjoyed being part of the new project.
"The big thing is still being involved," he said. "It's good to continue to do what we were doing. It does mean a lot. It's almost like giving back for what he's given us."
But retaining the bond between the old crew wasn't the only motivation behind Mrs Stewart's project. The signage on the car and service vehicle promoted two national organisations dedicated to helping those living with a neurological disease.
Sue Giddons from Neurological Foundation of New Zealand said they were "thrilled" and "very humbled" by the gesture. It helped raise the foundation's profile at a local level, "and that's huge for us," she said.
Mrs Stewart would be floating around behind the scenes during next weekend's race, a position she became well accustomed to during her husband's 38-year career.
Mr Stewart raced 29 times in the Rally of New Zealand's 36 years, as well as championship races overseas and was dubbed by World Rally Championship as "New Zealand's most prolific competitor"
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