| Rodger Freeth | |
| Nationality: |  New Zealander |
| Birth Date: | 24 December 1953 |
| Birth Place: | Tauranga, New Zealand |
| Death Place: | Perth, Australia |
| Years: | 1977–1993 |
| Teams: |  Subaru World Rally Team Subaru Tecnica International |
| Races: | 24 |
| Championships: | 0 |
| Wins: | 0 |
| Podiums: | 0 |
| First Race: | 1977 Rally New Zealand |
| Last Race: | 1993 Rally Australia |
| Driver: | Possum Bourne Neil Allport John Tee Pentti Airikkala Alan Carter |
| Stagewins: | 15 |
Rodger "Roj" Vincent Freeth, 24 December 1953[1] [2] [3] – 18 September 1993) was a New Zealand motor sport competitor.
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[4] endurance race at Mount Panorama Circuit, Bathurst, Australia in 1982 and 1985, as well as NZ titles on NZ-built McIntosh Suzukis.
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.[5] [6] [7]
| 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 |
. Mick Walker (motorcycling). The Manx Norton. 304–305. Redline Books. 2006. 0-9544357-9-6.
