Summerfield making progress ahead of home rally 

Last season’s Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship runner-up Matt Summerfield is hoping what was essentially an open test session in Whangarei will help him at this weekend’s Lone Star Rally Canterbury.

Summerfield fell out of contention early at Whangarei earlier this month and spent the majority of the rally working his way back through the field and getting valuable seat time in his new car.

It was just his second rally behind the wheel of the Mirage.

“We did the best we could and climbed back up as far as we could,” Summerfield said of his Whangarei experience. “We are still third in the championship so not all is lost.

“We were not running the suspension that we should be but aside from that the confidence inside the car is a lot better – just getting a lot more comfortable where everything is and how it reacts.

“We were heading in the right direction on the first stage on Saturday morning – the car was feeling good and I made some small changes.

“We were getting there. We are just trying to take little steps along the way and it felt good.”

Summerfield and co-driving sister Nicole should be more comfortable this weekend on the forest roads in their own backyard. The pair comes from Rangiora, where the event is based, and the advantage of a home event is not lost on Summerfield.

“I think I have a better idea of the area so I always look forward to that.

“As for the roads being in the forest no-one really knows what we are doing and we can’t get in there.

“It is a lot better being at home though just being familiar.”

Lone Star Rally Canterbury sees drivers tackle 162km of action split across 10 high speed stages.

The 2018 New Zealand Rally Championship is proudly supported by Brian Green Property Group, Gull New Zealand, Dunlop New Zealand, Hella New Zealand and Stadium Finance