Taylor takes early rally championship lead
Hawke’s Bay driver Stewart Taylor (Mitsubishi Lancer) has a tantalising 0.9s lead after the first day of rally championship action in the Wairarapa.
The first round of the Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship, the 33-year old took the championship lead late in the opening day of the Trusthouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa.
Contested over two days, the opening seven stages covered 135km of gravel to the north of host township Masterton. Dust and loose gravel were by-products of continuing fine weather; mild autumn temperatures the only real positive.
Sweeping the way clear after defending champion Sam Murray (Subaru Impreza) made a first stage exit, former rally champion and hometown favourite Richard Mason clawed back to finish behind Taylor.
After early time-robbing incidents, the newly wed driver/co-driver team were followed home by a second Mitsubishi of Aucklander Mark Tapper.
“We started well this morning – with good road position, although it was pretty slippery. We had a couple spins in crazy places, knocking something - so that affected things. The car is handling well and doing what I want it to – so – tomorrow is another day,” said Tapper, ten seconds in arrears.
While attrition accounted for a third of the rally championship field, the top-five placings were covered by 25 seconds.
Early rally leader Nathan Thomas (Wellington) succumbed to the loose gravel conditions that claimed a number of the eight-strong classic category, slipping off the road in the fourth stage. Spectacular roll-overs came from Rotorua’s Dean Sumner (Lancer EVO 9), Palmerston North’s Sam Murray (Subaru Impreza), Wellington’s Deborah Kibble (Mitsubishi EX Lancer) and Wellington’s Doug Breden (Ford Escort).
Wellington’s Aaron Cook snared two-wheel drive honours – the front-wheel powered Honda Jazz following the exact same traction line of the higher-horsepower four-wheel drive cars.
“There was a lot of gravel on the road, but definitely a clean line, which was good for us. I have always done well here; have a good feel for these roads and seem to get some good stage times,” said Cook.
Finishing in 11th position of the championship field, Cook was two places ahead of fellow Honda pilot Dave Strong (Auckland).
Heading the classic class, Palmerston North’s Bert Murray overcame visibility adversity to bring the Mazda RX7 back in 16th place: “All I can say is its being very trying. So many cars went out, but being in a rear-wheel drive cars behind all the others was horrendous. The four and front-wheel drive cars just take one line – and then you come whistling along – I’ve never driven on anything as slippery before in my life. It was struggle street really, we just battled on and did what we had to really.
Restarting at 8am on Sunday morning, the remaining championship field cover eight stages through the northern Wairarapa. Returning to a champagne finish, the cars will assembled at Masterton’s Copthorne Solway Park from 3:30pm.
Heading for the lead: Hawke's Bay driver Stewart Taylor passes the stricken Mitsubishi Lancer of Rotorua's Dean Sumner in the fourth stage of today's Trusthouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa
Photo: Euan Cameron
Ends.
Results after day one (top-ten): Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship round one – Trusthouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa.
- S Taylor (Hawkes Bay) – Mitsubishi
- R Mason (Masterton) – Subaru +0.9s
- M Tapper (Auckland) – Mitsubishi +11.2s
- C West (Auckland) – Mitsubishi +23.2
- C McInnes (Tauranga) – Subaru +25.2
- H Paddon (South Canterbury) – Mitsubishi +1m51s
- B Martin (Masterton) – Mitsubishi +2m37.3s
- S Cox (Rotorua) – Mitsubishi +3m12.4s
- A Meier (Cambridge) – Subaru +3m12.6
- G Barber (Foxton) – Subaru +3m41.8s
For more information:
About the event: www.rallywairarapa.co.nz
VANTAGE ALUMINIUM JOINERY 2008 NEW ZEALAND RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
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 further information: www.motorsport.org.nz/Rally or www.vantage.co.nz
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
