What we learned from Otago Rally
Ben’s testing and pre-season activity worked
Perennially a slow starter, Ben Hunt was on the pace from the get-go on Saturday morning. Why? Well, he bucked his recent trend and completed some testing and a rallysprint in the lead-up to the season-opener.
Hunt has always been renowned for his speed and consistency but has often taken the first day to get into his work. It cost him victory a year ago in Otago but that wasn’t to be the case this time around.
Jack Stokes is a serious contender
Jack was bitterly unlucky to see a top result go begging after a punctured radiator ended his cat 1 debut on Sunday afternoon.
But his impressive showing, leading for much of the event, proved he will be a genuine force to be reckoned with this season. His battle with older brother Robbie should be one to watch on its own.
The title fight is going to be ridiculously tight this season
Just 0.1 of a second separated Ben and Robbie heading into Kuri Bush – the final stage – on Sunday. Jack Stokes had been right in that battle as well until his late issue.
If you take out Emma Gilmour’s first stage puncture, look at how Jack Hawkeswood responded later on Sunday, and consider Josh Marston will only get faster with seat time there could be six genuine title contenders this year.
Bryn won’t have it his own way
Bryn Jones had to work hard to overhaul Tim Mackersy in the NZRC 2WD battle – falling behind by over 30 seconds before reeling him in.
Jones is the favourite for the class win but Mackersy showed he can challenge the Waikato-based driver. Jones is not a fan of forestry stages and with both Canterbury, Coromandel and Bay of Plenty to feature plenty of those roads, Mackersy might fancy his chances.
Front wheel drive cars are the entry level
The number of NZRC stars to cut their teeth or hone their craft in the NZRC 2WD class continues to grow, showing the pathway for many to the top level. Jack Stokes is the latest driver to make a successful jump from the class, joining the likes of Ben Hunt, Robbie Stokes, Dylan Thomson and Mark Tapper in making the leap.
Deane Buist will be hard to beat
The Cantabrian impressed everyone (including WRC star Kris Meeke) with his crazy pace in his Ford Escort, despite driving without recce.
Buist won the Historic Rally, taking advantage of Meeke and Hayden Paddon’s issues but his outright pace was something to behold.
The NZRC livestream is so much better with a drone
The livestreams over the weekend reached huge numbers on the back of a spectacular event but were really boosted with the amazing drone footage from the Volt TV crew.
We hope to roll the drone out at each event this year but really need a sponsor to help make it happen. Anyone interested in putting their brand into the livestream probably couldn’t get better value for money than naming the drone. Interested parties should contact Blair Bartels via bbmedianz@gmail.com.
Dylan Turner is bloody good
While it is disappointing not to see him out in the Audi, it was great to have Dylan Turner as expert comments man on the livestream over the weekend.
Lord Farquaad was a bit of a prima donna – turning up late and leaving immediately after the rally finished but did offer outstanding insights into the coverage.
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