Mount Maunganui rally driver David Holder has his sights set firmly on the iconic Possum Bourne Memorial Rally following some recent podium success.

Heading into its 10^th anniversary year, the rally also doubles as the penultimate round of the New Zealand Rally Championship with Holder confident after another successful podium placing at the recent Rally of Canterbury.

David Holder in action at during this year's New Zealand Rally Championship. Photo: Euan Cameron

The event honours NZ rallying legend Possum Bourne, who was tragically killed in 2003.

'Ask any of the general New Zealand public anything about rallying, and the first person they associate is Possum Bourne. He had such an infectious personality that captured the hearts of many, and inspired a number of today's enthusiasts,” says Holder.

The Possum Bourne Rally sees competitors tackle a raft of different surfaces, from the rough gravel roads in the Maramaru Forest through to tarmac public roads and then finishing on the smooth asphalt of a couple of New Zealand's best known race tracks.

'To be honest if there's one way to make a rally car look slow, it's by putting it on the race track. So I don't think we will break any lap records at Pukekohe or Hampton Downs,” jokes Holder.

'It's going to be a difficult event for us against the newer R2 Fiesta's. The challenge of tarmac, and repeated stages that favour the new R2 Fiesta set up, are going to stretch us this weekend. But we have plenty to work on, so the aim will be just to improve our driving, looking to prepare ourselves for next year” states Holder.

The team are busy making plans for their 2014 campaign, one which hopefully sees them follow in Holder's mentor Hayden Paddon's footsteps, by competing at an international level.

'We are still a long way from having everything in place for next year, but we're working hard to make it happen. Many of our current sponsors are keen to see us succeed which is fantastic, and we are hopeful others will come on board.

The Possum Bourne Memorial rally begins on Saturday. Keep up to date throughout the event via the team website www.holderbrothersracing.com.