BNT Mason Motorsport win record fifth NZ Rally Championship
By winning Rally Wairarapa for a record 8th time, ‘BNT’ and Richard and Sara Mason win a record 5th New Zealand Rally Championship title. Photo Credit – Geoff Ridder.
Four wins from four starts mean that four times New Zealand Rally Champions Richard and Sara Mason are now FIVE times champions, after a record breaking win at last weekend’s Trusthouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa.
Richard now stands alone as the most successful driver in the 38 year history of the New Zealand Rally Championship with 5 titles – 2005, 2006, 2011, 2012 and now 2014 – one more than Manawatu’s Bruce Herbert (2000-2003). He has also racked up 27 round wins, 5 more than 3-times champion Neil Allport (1986, 1989 and 1992).
Sara has won 4 Co-driver titles and this latest win now moves her equal with Bob Haldane (1985 – 1997) on 24 round wins.
The Masterton Flyers four consecutive round wins this year means they have won the 2014 Brian Green Property New Zealand Rally Championship driven by VINZ, in a clean sweep and with two rounds to spare – both new records in their own right as neither have ever been done before.
Richard was quick to dedicate BNT Mason Motorsport’s achievements to his friend, mentor and sponsor, Greg Horne. “It was the dying wish of our long term supporter and sponsor Greg Horne who passed earlier this year, that we would take a fifth championship, and we’ve done it for him.
“And to wrap up the title so early in the series after such a dominant year, and at home in front of all our family, friends and supporters, really is the icing on the cake.”
It’s not just what the Masons have achieved last weekend, but how they have achieved it, that is also record-breaking.
They have now won the Trusthouse Racetech Rally Wairarapa round of the NZRC a record 8 times in the 10 years it has been in the championship.
They produced another clinical performance that started by winning the first stage by a whopping 50 seconds over the 34 kilometre long Coonoor test near Pongoroa, and then backed that up by winning the eight remaining stages to become the only crew to win all stages of a one day round.
And their winning margin of 2 minutes 44.6 seconds on a one day round extends the previous record they already held when they won last year’s Possum Bourne Memorial Rally by 2 minutes 7.7 seconds.
Their stellar season and total dominance is graphically illustrated by their Special Stage Winning Strike Rate which stands at an incredible 85%. So far the four rounds have been run over 45 special stages and the Masons have won 38 of them.
“It’s taken a heap of effort to get the BNT Subaru to this level of performance, but it is definitely awesome to drive and long may it continue….
“Sara is at the top of her game calling the [pace] notes and managing the team and what can you say about Dwight [Dwight Scott from ScottSpeed Performance Engines] because these five titles are just as much a testimony to his expertise with our engines as they are to what we do when I get behind the wheel..
“Dayle from Tom’s Autos has done an awesome job preparing the BNT Subaru this year and the resulting reliability is a direct indication of his meticulous attention to detail.
“And to all the brilliant bunch who make up our BNT Mason Motorsport Team: Your commitment and dedication is appreciated SO MUCH – We just couldn’t do it without you – Thank You All most sincerely.”
The 2014 Brian Green Property New Zealand Rally Championship driven by VINZ, now takes a break for two months before resuming on the weekend of August 22 – 24 for Round Five, the all new Gold Rush Rally of Coromandel, which will be based in the tourist town of Whitianga.
BNT Mason Motorsport are very proud to again have the support of BNT, Dunlop, B.W.O’Brien, ScottSpeed Performance Engines, Geartech, MCA Suspension, Hopper Construction, Race Brakes, Randall & Associates, Quality Foods and Tom’s Autos, without whose invaluable assistance they would not be able to be celebrating a decade at the top of NZ rallying.
By winning Rally Wairarapa for a record 8th time, ‘BNT’ and Richard and Sara Mason win a record 5th New Zealand Rally Championship title. Photo Credit – Geoff Ridder.
Tweet
