Mason takes first day lead in Rally Otago

Masterton husband and wife pairing Richard and Sara Mason have comfortably headed the competition for the first day of Rally Otago.

The weekend’s second round of the Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship, today’s seven stages held south of host city Dunedin were graced by a break in the wintry weather.  The early morning frost set the scene as Mason’s BNT Subaru clean-swept the time sheets – stretching out a 22 second buffer over second placed Hayden Paddon’s Mitsubishi.

With much of the championship besieged by punctures during the day, Mason says driving to the conditions kept him free of tyre deflations: “There were a lot of sharp rocks, especially the second pass – and we really did back off a lot.  Actually stage one we backed off for quite a few sharp rocks but second time through it was particularly bony.   So we were definitely looking out for those things.”

Third, Hastings driver Stewart Taylor was another puncture casualty, although dropped minimal time to maintain his comfortable position.

“I got to the point where I was in no-mans land – those other guys got away far in front. I just thought I would drive safely to the finish and picked up a puncture myself.  I stopped cutting corners and still got a puncture,” described Taylor.

Leading the two-wheel drive category, Auckland’s Dave Strong (Honda Civic) surged ahead of Aaron Cook’s Honda Jazz and the Ford Fiesta of Chris Lange.  Even a minor off-road excursion by Palmerston North’s Bert Murray did little to upset today’s lead in the Classic category.  The RX7 pilot finished well clear of points leader Rob Wylie in the Nissan 240RS.

Of those most affected by punctures, Mitsubishi’s Chris West punctured early in the opening stage – largely eliminating him from the top of the championship points haul on offer for the day:

“It was the last thing I was expecting,” said West, stopping to change the tyre.  “All we can do is put it behind us; but to be fair we have still had a reasonably tough day.”

Defending Classic champion Euan Fuge also lost several minutes to a puncture, while Ford Fiesta points leader Patrick Malley over-turned his day on the opening test.  The Aucklander intends to restart for fresh points tomorrow.

Sunday’s action heads north for two tests in northern Otago before concluding the event over classic tests south of Dunedin.  The remaining cars then return for a 2:30pm champagne finish in the Octagon.

 

Ends.

 

Results:

Rally of Otago (Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship) – Saturday (top-10) *provisional

• R Mason/S Mason – Subaru
• H Paddon/J Kennard – Mitsubishi +22.7
• S Taylor/W Searle – Mitsubishi +2m15.9
• D Sumner/P Fallon – Mitsubishi +3m52.1
• C West/ G Cowan – Mitsubishi +3m56.1
• E Gilmour/G Macneall – Subaru +4m43.3
• S Cox/T Cox – Mitsubishi +5m15.7
• G Barber/B O’Connor – Subaru +6m09.8
• A Meier/J Farmer – Subaru +7m04.5
• D Strong/B McKenzie – Honda Civic +7m13.4

• For full results an information: www.chrissport.co.nz or www.otagorally.co.nz

  VANTAGE ALUMINIUM JOINERY 2008 NEW ZEALAND RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP - calendar

  1.	12-13 April	Rally Wairarapa
  2.	10-11 May	Rally Otago
  3.	07-08 June	Rally of Whangarei *
  4.	26-27 July	Rally of Hawke’s Bay
  5.	28-31 August	Rally New Zealand **
  6.	20-21 September	Rally Nelson

  
  * FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship

  ** FIA World Rally Championship
• For any enquiries relating to the Vantage Aluminium Joinery 2007 New Zealand Rally Championship, please contact:

  Laurie Brenssell

  Championship Promotions Co-ordinator

  0274 333 667

  laurie.b@xtra.co.nz

   

  Lance Hastie

  Rally Publicist

  021 329 909

  lance@inspire.net.nz