Tom Bond, a Dunedin-based rally driver, found himself upside down in a ditch after a mishap during an Otago Sports Car Club Tarmac Autocross event held over the weekend at Stedman Road in North Taieri. Bond, who has competed in numerous rallies, was driving his 2005 Toyota Echo when he misjudged a corner, resulting in the vehicle flipping over.

According to Bond, the incident occurred when he entered a corner too quickly and attempted to navigate a subsequent chicane without hitting the barrels set up as course markers. His effort to avoid the barrels, he said, caused him to lose control and the car to swing sharply, ultimately rolling onto its roof. Despite the crash, he escaped with minor injuries and was able to exit the vehicle unassisted.

Bond emphasized that the event encouraged participation from drivers of various car types and acknowledged that accidents were part of the experience. He described the crash as neither his first nor most severe but noted it was the first time one of his cars had ended up overturned.

His partner was reportedly unbothered by the accident and remains supportive. However, the future of the Toyota Echo appears bleak; with no insurance coverage as it was used for racing purposes, Bond plans to salvage some parts to assist a friend or sell them before scrapping the remainder of the vehicle.

Reflecting on the day’s events, Bond described the crash as “a bit of a dumb mistake,” though he considered the overall experience positive since he was unharmed. He is currently seeking a new runabout to replace the totaled car.

Bond’s main rally vehicle remains a 1990 Subaru Legacy RS, and he is engaged in a project involving a Subaru Impreza outfitted with a three-liter six-cylinder engine sourced from a Subaru Outback.