COFFS Coast driver Nathan Quinn has won one of the oldest motor sport events in the world.

The rally driver won the 100th running of the Alpine Rally held in East Gippsland.

Quinn and his co-driver Ray Winwood-Smith defended the title they won in 2019, the last time the event was held.

The pair won this year’s event by nearly two minutes in their Mazda RX2, winning after four days and 450km of competitive stages.

Quinn said it was one of the best moments of his racing career.

“We were the favourites, we won in 2019, and there was a fair bit of pressure expected to win it this year.

“And after four days of rallying to take the win, it was probably one of the biggest achievements of my life.”

The win in Victoria came on the back of his recent victory on home soil in the Supercheap Auto Coffs Coast Rally, an event he loved to compete in.

“Home soil is always good, people always come here, get beaten by me here, and they put it down to local knowledge, but realistically it’s just that air of confidence, you know where everything is and all your mates are out in the forest, and there’s nothing better than performing at home,” he said.

He planned to continue his recent run of rich form into the 2023 racing season.

“We’ll bring the Hyundai out at the start of the year for the first round of the National Championship, and we’ll just reinstate that we are the fastest in this country,” he said.

Quinn finished 8th in the driver standings of this year’s Australian Rally Championship.

By Aiden BURGESS