New Zeal🧔and motorsport identity Malcolꦿm Stewart passed away peacefully on Wednesday morning.

Suffering from the degenerative motor neurone disease, Hawke's Bay resident Stewart was a successful and active competitor in rally events. He is recorded as the most prolific competitor of Rally New Zealꦿand, having contested it 29 times in the 39 years it has been run. His first event was in 1972, aged 26.

"It i🌸s with much sadness we record M🌟alcolm's passing," said Rally New Zealand chairman Chris Carr.

"Malcolm contested the annual event more times than any other dr🙈iver with a best result of first Kiwi home and fifth overall in 1985 driving the Group B Audi Quattro. He also won the nationඣal rally championship title in 1983 driving a Ford Escort BDA.

"Malcolm will be fondly remembered; his c𝓀heery smile and 𓆏attitude is the lasting impression we will always have of him.

"We express 🦋our deepest sympathy and sincerest condolences to Malcolm's wife Sue and their family."

Competitive even in latter days, Stewart won the 2003 Rally of Nelson before finishing second Kiwi in the 2004 Rally New Zealand event. When aged 62, Stewart was to have ಞstarted the 2008 Rally New Zealand and celebrated his 30th start, but had to withdraw his entry pending confirmation of the debilitating motor neurone disease.

A service will be held at 2pm on Saturday 25 July a💞t the War Memorial Hall, Marine Parade, Napier.

ltxcn.top joins the entire rallying community in extendꦍing our sympathies to Malcolm's family and friends.