Hunt tipped as best while Blackberry, Galbraith most under-rated drivers 

Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship runner-up Ben Hunt has been voted as the best driver in the championship outside of WRC star Hayden Paddon.

Hunt received 61% support among the 80-plus drivers, co-drivers and team officials that took part in the championship’s recent survey.

The 2015 national champion has enjoyed a strong season, highlighted by his stage win against Paddon at South Canterbury in June, and lies second to Paddon heading into the final rally of the season – the Hyundai New Zealand Raglan Rally of the Coast – next month.

Junior WRC driver and 2016 national champion David Holder and last year’s championship runner-up Matt Summerfield were the second most popular choices – each picking up 8% of the vote.

Other drivers to be nominated more than once were defending NZRC champion Andrew Hawkeswood, and Emma Gilmour.

Gull Rally Challenge championship leader Grant Blackberry and the recently retired/inactive Darren Galbraith were voted the most under-rated drivers in the sport. Both polled 10% of the vote from fellow drivers, co-drivers and team officials in a very close and subjective category.

Dylan Turner and Josh Marston each picked up 7% of the vote while 2WD champ Dylan Thomson received support from 6% of those that took part.

Other drivers to feature with multiple votes were Phil Campbell, Raana Horan, Regan Ross, Adam Bligh, Greg Murphy, Matt Summerfield, Graham Featherstone and Emma Gilmour.

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