Cunningham progresses at Gisborne
Clinton Cunninghm negotiates the Motu ford passing Dylan Turners stranded car. Photo: Dee Byrne
West Auckland rally driver Clint Cunningham has come away from the fourth round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, Fuchs Rally Gisborne, having made progress despite a challenging day.
Cunningham came into the event looking for a clean run in the RCK Contractors Mitsubishi Evo 8 Proto car to continue to learn the car and increase the speed in it, as well as break a jinx on the event with two retirements from two previous starts.
The opening stage saw Cunningham and co-driver Glenn Goldring set into their work well as they set the eleventh fastest time through the high speed Rakauroa test.
Next up was the challenge of the infamous Motu, 47 kilometres of the most twisty and demanding road in New Zealand. Unfortunately the Motu would not be smooth sailing for Cunningham, with a misfire meaning he would lose more than three minutes to the leaders.
Despite their best efforts, the team were unable to rectify the issue and for the two remaining stages, but Cunningham soldiered on, continuing to gain mileage and learn his new car. In the end, he was able to come home in eleventh place.
“For the whole team it was great to record a finish, it’s a big morale boost for the whole team,” said Cunningham. “At the end of the day, I feel that we have left the event in a stronger place than where we were beforehand and that was the goal.”
Cunningham and his team now concentrate of Mahindra Goldrush Rally Coromandel on August 22.
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