Rodger Vincent Freeth, 24 December 1953 – 18 September 1993) was a New Zealand motor sport competitor.
Career He held a PhD in physics and had a distinguished academic and motorsport career. His first love was motorcycles and whilst he was still at university he built a radical Yamaha TZ750A with an aerofoil. As a result, the controlling body (New Zealand Auto-Cycle Union) banned the use of aerodynamic aids in motorcycle racing. He won the Arai 500 endurance race at Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst, Australia in 1982 and 1985, as well as NZ titles on NZ-built McIntosh Suzukis.
Awards and recognition He later became one of New Zealand's best known rally co-drivers, first with Neil Allport and then with Peter "Possum" Bourne. As a driver he also won TraNZam titles in his V8 Starlet.
Freeth died in 1993 as a result of injuries received in an accident on the first day of the World Championship event Rally Australia co-driving for Possum Bourne.
Complete WRC results Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 WDC Points 1977 Alan Carter Ford Escort RS1800 MON SWE POR KEN NZLRet GRC FIN CAN ITA FRA GBR NC 0 1979 GM Dealer Team New Zealand Vauxhall Chevette 2300 HS MON SWE POR KEN GRC NZLRet FIN CAN ITA FRA GBR CIV NC 0 1980 John Tee Ford Escort RS1800 MON SWE POR KEN GRC ARG FIN NZL16 ITA FRA GBR CIV NC 0 1984 Neil Allport Ford Escort RS1800 MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZLRet ARG FIN ITA CIV GBR NC 0 1985 Neil Allport Mazda RX-7 MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZLRet ARG FIN ITA CIV GBR NC 0 1986 Neil Allport Mazda RX-7 MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZL6 ARG FIN CIV ITA GBR 36th 6 Mazda Familia 4WD USA11 1987 Neil Allport Mazda 323 4WD MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC USA NZLRet ARG FIN CIV ITA NC 0 Subaru Deutschland Subaru RX TurboGBRRet 1988 Fuji Heavy Industries Subaru RX Turbo MON SWE POR KEN9 FRA GRC USA 72nd 2 Subaru Motor Sport Group NZLRet ARG FIN CIV ITA GBR 1989 Subaru Technica International Subaru RX Turbo SWE MON POR KEN7 FRA GRC NZLDSQ ARGRet FIN AUS10 ITA CIV GBR 49th 5 1990 Subaru Technica International Subaru Legacy RS MON POR KENRet FRA GRC NZL5 ARG FIN AUS4 ITA CIV GBR 14th 18 1991 Subaru Rally Team Europe Subaru Legacy RS MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRE NZLRet ARG FIN AUSRet ITA CIV ESP GBR NC 0 1992 Subaru Rally Team Australia Subaru Legacy RS MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC NZLRet ARG FIN AUS6 ITA CIV ESP GBR 34th 6 1993 555 Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Legacy RS MON SWE POR KEN FRA GRC ARG NZL6 FIN AUSRet ITA ESP GBR 31st 6
Other International Rally results Result Year Rally Driver Car 2 1981 Motogard of Rally New Zealand Alan Mitchell Ford Escort RS1800 2 1988 Rally Australia (APRC) Possum Bourne Subaru RX Turbo
References