Top Asia-Pacific Rally Championship co-driver Glenn MacNeall normally sits next to MRF Skoda driver Gaurav Gill - but this weekend he will be driving.

With his partner, top kiwi driver Emma Gilmour co-driving, MacNell will drive a friend's Toyota Trueno at the Catlins Rally near Dunedin, New Zealand.

Usually ultra-competitive, Gilmour insisted it "should be a bit of fun" and was a novel way of celebrating Macneall's birthday today.

"I'm a bit of a nervous passenger but I'll be all right," she said, with a laugh.

The pair join a bumper field of 88 drivers.