Summerfield takes positives from home rally

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Matt Summerfield had a tough home rally with his event ending on the night stages. Photo: Euan Cameron

Rangiora rally driver Matt Summerfield is taking the positives from one of the toughest events in his rallying career, the Lone Star Rally Canterbury, round three of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, over the weekend.

Summerfield and co-driving sister Nicole entered their home event full of confidence off their first ever NZRC stage win at Otago and were looking to continue that speed in the new-look Castrol Edge Subaru.

The opening stage started well, with split times early in the stage putting the pair at the top of the field, eventually breaking the timing beams second fastest.

The second stage saw Summerfield again on a pace that would put him in the runner up spot prior to the overnight halt. However an error in recce saw the pair leave the road, rolling out of the rally.

“It’s obviously gut-wrenching for us to bow out of our home rally in this fashion, but prior to that our speed was where we wanted to be,” said Summerfield. “The car is not as bad as we originally thought so we should be back and ready to fight again at Gisborne.”

The team now turn their focus to having the Castrol Edge Subaru ready for the fourth round of the championship, Rally Gisborne, on June 27, where they will look to move back up from seventh in the NZRC standings.

Matt Summerfield Rallisport would like to acknowledge their sponsors, without whom their 2015 campaign would not be possible: Castrol Edge, Autotech Services, Brita Safety, Clearwater Painting, North Canterbury Energy Centre, The Gearbox Company, Chatterton Builders, Liquorland, I C Frith Insurance Brokers and No Limit Construction.

Team Release

Image courtesy: Euan Cameron

       

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ABOUT THE NZRC

 
The New Zealand Rally Championship is this country’s premier nationwide rally championship. It attracts New Zealand’s best drivers to compete in numerous categories for the prestigious MotorSport New Zealand-sanctioned rally championship titles. In 2024, there are six NZRC rounds, each with a unique character reflecting the diverse regions – from Northland to Invercargill