Summerfield takes positives from home rally
Matt Summerfield had a tough home rally with his event ending on the night stages. Photo: Euan Cameron
Rangiora rally driver Matt Summerfield is taking the positives from one of the toughest events in his rallying career, the Lone Star Rally Canterbury, round three of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship, over the weekend.
Summerfield and co-driving sister Nicole entered their home event full of confidence off their first ever NZRC stage win at Otago and were looking to continue that speed in the new-look Castrol Edge Subaru.
The opening stage started well, with split times early in the stage putting the pair at the top of the field, eventually breaking the timing beams second fastest.
The second stage saw Summerfield again on a pace that would put him in the runner up spot prior to the overnight halt. However an error in recce saw the pair leave the road, rolling out of the rally.
“It’s obviously gut-wrenching for us to bow out of our home rally in this fashion, but prior to that our speed was where we wanted to be,” said Summerfield. “The car is not as bad as we originally thought so we should be back and ready to fight again at Gisborne.”
The team now turn their focus to having the Castrol Edge Subaru ready for the fourth round of the championship, Rally Gisborne, on June 27, where they will look to move back up from seventh in the NZRC standings.
Matt Summerfield Rallisport would like to acknowledge their sponsors, without whom their 2015 campaign would not be possible: Castrol Edge, Autotech Services, Brita Safety, Clearwater Painting, North Canterbury Energy Centre, The Gearbox Company, Chatterton Builders, Liquorland, I C Frith Insurance Brokers and No Limit Construction.
Team Release
Image courtesy: Euan Cameron
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