Inaugural H6 Cup reaches halfway point
Three rounds in, and the H6 Cup is living up to its promise — action, six-cylinder Subarus and a fresh energy injected into the New Zealand rally scene.
Created by Tim and Jack Smith to celebrate the Subaru Impreza with a modern twist, the six-round series has already covered a lot of ground — and delivered a lot of drama.
“We’ve seen some really tight competition throughout the field,” says series promoter Jack Smith. “It’s clear that Tim and Josh are doing an amazing job at the front, but guys like Jeff, Ben, and Kevin are showing how consistency can be just as exciting. And the battle between Deb and Amy has been fantastic to watch.”
The season began in the West Coast’s Moana, where Tim Smith used his experience to dominate the Lady Lake Rally Sprint. In Timaru, it was Josh Keighley’s turn to shine, claiming his first win and jumping into the points lead with Tim’s absent. Round three brought the battle back to Tim’s home turf in Canterbury and he responded with a masterclass performance, including an incredible 213 km/h top speed on Ram Paddock Road.
Behind the front-runners, the fight has been just as intense. Jeff Judd continues to prove why he’s a veteran of the sport, while Ben Huband and Kevin Laird have shown serious pace in only a handful of appearances. And while Amy Keighley suffered a major crash in round two, she returned to duel with Deborah Kibble. A rivalry that’s fast becoming one of the series’ highlights.
“It’s a great mix of competitors,” Jack continues. “From front-runners to new faces and people like John Nelson, who joined us for the first round. It's just great to see so many levels of experience. But the biggest thing is the camaraderie. Everyone helps each other out, there’s a group chat buzzing with updates and banter. It’s a really positive environment.”
The series has also made waves off the stage. Canterbury Rally featured dedicated spectator guides, a new addition that fans embraced with enthusiasm.
“It was so cool seeing people walking around with the guides we put together,” Jack adds. “We’re also working on some TV coverage, with a very special narrator. One of Tim’s videos even clocked over 250,000 views, which shows how far this thing is reaching.”
With three rounds still to go — Wyndham, Catlins, and the finale in Hanmer — the championship is wide open. Keighley leads, but Smith’s two wins have closed the gap. Judd remains a threat with his trademark consistency.
“You can’t bite off more than you can chew in year one,” Jack admits. “But the growth has been incredible. We’ve even had people from Australia and the US get in touch about building H6s. That tells us we’re hitting all the right notes.”
As the series gears up for the second half, one thing is clear: the H6 Cup isn’t just a one-off experiment. It’s a movement. And it’s only just getting started.