After clinching the 2007 Production Car World Rally Championship title with Toshi Arai, co-driver Tony Sircombe has decided to retire. He will be leaving the sport to continue work on commercial aspects.

The 47-year-old New Zealander will therefore be bringing over two decades of racing within the rallying world to an end after catching the P-WRC prize last year. It was his second crown as Arai’s co-driver following the first claimed in 2005.

Sircombe won races with quite a list of top rally drivers over the years. The Asia Pacific Championship title appears twice on his record: 1989 with Rod Millen and 1994 with Possum Bourne, while three Group N victories were accomplished alongside Hamed al Wahaibi during the 1999 season. He then partnered with Toshi Arai starting in 2001.

35-year-old Australian Glenn MacNeall, who formerly worked with fellow countryman Chris Atkinson, has been chosen as Arai’s new co-driver. After contesting two Asia Pacific rallies together last year, the pair will resume their cooperation starting with Rally Sweden.