Second half title fight resumes in Manawatu
The Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship title fight reignites this weekend at round four in the Manawatu-based Daybreaker Rally.
Championship leader Robbie Stokes takes a one-point lead into the second half of the championship but will face a test on a rally he has not done before.
The Stokes Motorsport Ford Fiesta AP4 driver has added a new level of consistency to his performance this season and he has reaped the rewards.
But he faces a difficult test on roads that might be more suited to a pair of his title rivals.
Two-time national champion Ben Hunt has been a model of consistency over the past decade or so and once again finds himself in the mix to win another championship, trailing Stokes by a point.
The Skoda New Zealand Fabia Rally 2 driver will feel more at home on the tighter and more technical roads in his factory produced car having had to deal with a slight disadvantage in top end speed on the fast South Island roads in the opening three rounds.
WRC rally winner and seven-time New Zealand champion Hayden Paddon looms behind Stokes and Hunt, having won the last two events on the back of missing the season-opening round in Otago.
Paddon won at Daybreaker last year – a first staging of the event in over a decade – in his Hyundai New Zealand i20 Rally 2.
Australian star Brendan Reeves makes his first start in the championship since prior to the COVID disruptions, running the Paddon Rally Sport Hyundai i20 AP4 and could well have an impact on the championship battle if he can find his best form.
Emma Gilmour (Vantage NZ Citroen C3) will be out to recapture her best form in the second half of the campaign while impressive youngster Zeal Jones (Smith & Sons Skoda Fabia R5) will look to showcase his talent at the pointy end of the field.
Australian Stewart Reid (SR Automotive Mitsubishi Mirage AP4) demonstrated some good speed as he began to get more familiar with his new car and should be one to watch in the second half of the season.
Dylan Thomson (Ford Fiesta) will look to defend his points lead in the competitive NZRC 2WD battle.
He will face a challenge from the impressive Jack Stokes (Ford Fiesta) and the ever-improving Bryn Jones (Ford Fiesta), while Tim Mackersy should find himself increasingly in the mix with his new car (Ford Fiesta) now all good to go.
The battle between Dave Strong (Honda Jazz) and Willy Hawes (Toyota 86) in the Open 2WD championship will re-start again, with Strong needing to make up ground. Murray Percival (Ford Escort) will keep the two title contenders honest.
Paul Fraser (Ford Escort) will be hoping to avoid drama as he protects a championship lead in the Historic 2WD class with Mike Cameron (Mitsubishi Lancer) nipping at his heels.
Championship contenders Andrew Graves (Mitsubishi EVO 3) and Caleb MacDonald (Mitsubishi EVO 6) have headed north in the highly competitive Rally Challenge 4WD class.
They’ll need to secure points at this nominated round while some of the other contenders drop this round but will return for the next round at Bay of Plenty.
James Macdonald (Subaru Impreza), Jay Pittams (Subaru Impreza), Phil Macquarie (Subaru Impreza) and Gavin Feast (Subaru WRX) all should find themselves in the battle for the class win, while Julien Lenglet (Subaru Impreza), Amy Keighley (Subaru Magnum H6) and Brian Green (Mitsubishi EVO 9) will battle hard for a podium spot.
Defending class champion Jared Parker (Toyota Corolla) will aim to defend his title advantage over Pat Norris (Toyota Yaris) in the Rally Challenge 2WD class.
The event begins with a running of the Central Energy Trust Arena Super Special Stage on Friday night in Palmerston North before a full day of competition north of the city that starts in the dark at just after 5am.
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