Mainland title another job ticked off for Stokes
Championship protagonist Robbie Stokes has ticked off another major milestone after claiming the Mainland Rally Series title at last weekend’s Hanmer Rally.
The North Canterbury local added the prestigious South Island Championship to a breakthrough NZRC rally win at his home Canterbury event back in June in what is shaping up as massive season.
Stokes is locked in what is essentially a head-to-head battle with reigning national champion Ben Hunt for the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship in 2025.
Winning the Mainland Championship is a big deal for Stokes and his team.
“It means a lot to our whole team and the family,” Stokes said.
“To win the championship at the Hanmer Rally, which is a very special rally for a lot of locals in Canterbury was extra special.”
The uber-talented Stokes has gone to another level in 2025 as he has found a real level of consistency to go with his undoubted out-right pace.
A change of car with a move to the factory-produced Skoda Rally 2 has been a factor but Stokes believes there is more to it than that.
“A lot of our consistency is thanks to the Skoda’s reliability but also the team’s preparation and dedication.
“And to Shane [co-driver Shane Reynolds] and the whole team for doing what they do behind the scenes has made my job much easier.
And Stokes has his eyes firmly focused on completing the threepeat in 2025 by winning the national championship – just like his father Brian did.
“It would mean everything to me,” Stokes said. “That has been the goal since I started rallying and to follow in Dad’s footsteps would be amazing.”
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