Cox returns to contest full championship
The Cox Motorsport team are pleased to announce that international co-driver Malcolm Read, based in Hamilton, will co-drive for Sloan Cox for the 2016 New Zealand Rally Championship.
Cox will be piloting the Taslo Engineering Mitsubishi Evo X and the pair are gearing up for a successful championship with the aim of consistent podium finishes and overall rally wins. Read will partner Cox at five of the six championship rounds, only missing the International Rally of Whangarei due to his commitments competing in the Asia Pacific Rally Championship. For this round Cox has lined up co-driver Sarah Coatsworth who is hoping to escape her farming commitments. They have worked well in past events and together have the speed to be at the top.
Last year the pairing competed together in the Rally of the North which they were leading until they had an off road excursion. Despite not achieving the results they were aiming for, they felt that they had a successful pairing and have been working together during the off season in preparation to attack this year’s championship.
Another strong testing session last weekend left the pair feeling comfortable in the car together and enthusiastic about round one of the championship in just three weeks time. The Evo X felt good and strong and only a few minor problems were noticed to be corrected.
“I am really looking forward to working with Sloan for the 2016 New Zealand Rally Championship. I had the chance to sit alongside Sloan last September and his car control and driving ability really impressed me. The Cox Motorsport team have also been working really hard during the off season to ensure we have the best opportunity for the season ahead, we’re ready to put our best foot forward and challenge for the championship!” exclaimed Read.
The next three weeks will see the Cox Motorsport team finish the hard preparation of stripping and refurbishing parts on the Evo X to ensure the best possible reliability is achieved from the car. The first round of the championship is the DriveSouth Rally of Otago which kicks off in Dunedin on 9 – 10th April.
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