Pair plot podium finish

State champion for 2017 Tom Wilde will compete in the 2019 Make Smoking History Forest Rally with partner Madelin Kirkhouse as his co-driver.

The two met through rallying and won their first event and State championship together in 2017, driving a two-wheel-drive Honda Civic to defeat a field of more powerful four-wheel-drive cars.

They were the first to win the State Championship driving a two-world-drive car in 30 years.

Kirkhouse grew up around rallying families and started competing in khanacross (time trial rallies) when she was just 12 years old.

Wilde also won the 2010 State Championship and the 2011 Australian Junior Challenge in Coffs Harbour.

The rising star was runner-up in the 2013 Australian Rally Championship where he competed in rallies all over the country in both 2012 and 2013.

Wilde said the favourite for this event was Harry Bates driving a Toyota Yaris AP4 but it was set to be a tight contest.

He said they had a proven and reliable car and were eyeing at least a podium finish.