Ben Jagger Media Release Rally of Hawkes Bay 2008

The two Bens, Ben Jagger and co-driver Ben Hawkins head to Hawkes Bay this weekend with one thing in mind which is to defend and strengthen their lead in the Fiesta Sporting Trophy.

A challenge from Auckland driver Patrick Malley, who is currently in second place behind Jagger, is being given some bizarre impetus by the introduction of his mother and father into the championship! The parents of 24 year old Malley have stepped over from the supporter lines and entered the race for the trophy in support of their son for this weekend and perhaps even the remainder of the championship.

With Patrick's father Dermott at the wheel of the family's spare car and mother Linzi calling the notes the pressure from behind Jagger and Hawkins this weekend will be two fold.

But will that pressure from the two senior Malleys entering the fray bear heavily on the series leader Jagger as he prepares for the Rally of Hawkes Bay?

"No not really, Dermott was driving the car in the series last year but I'm not too worried about him. We are just going into this weekend with the aim to win the round and have decided to up the pressure on ourselves a bit so we can stay ahead of Patrick and keep the lead." said Jagger.

Making the most of the time between the Rally of Whangarei and the Rally of Hawkes Bay, "The Two Bens" have been concentrating on their fitness over the long seven week hiatus.

"Both of us have been concentrating on fitness over the last few weeks in preparation for this event. We both like riding so we have been taking our bikes to work and also getting to the gym whenever we can." he said.

Ben Jagger is determined to have a strong showing at this weekend's rally as it is the only event other than his home Rally of Whangarei where he and Hawkins have had previous experience. Last year the pair had a class win at Hawkes Bay driving the Suzuki Swift which they had competed with just one time before.

"We know the roads from last year so we will have to make the most of this rally. This year it's a two day event but the stages are just repeated so we hope to get a good result here." said Jagger.

Their outstanding result at that rally was instrumental to their being able to enter the national championship this year and the purchase of the Ford Fiesta was based on the talent the pair showed at the event and at last year's Rally of Whangarei. The Fiesta was chosen as there was a chance to compete in the UK for the International Shoot-out and thus far the Whangarei duo have shown they were worth the support given them.

The winner of the NZ Ford Fiesta Sporting Trophy, which Jagger and Hawkins currently lead, will receive invitation to the United Kingdom where they will shoot it out with drivers from around the world. The prize for the winner will be 12 months employment within M-Sport who not only build the Fiestas for worldwide competition but run currently leading WRC challengers the BP Ford Abu Dhabi World Rally Team.

After this weekend the series has two rounds remaining, the Rally of New Zealand in August and the finale at the Rally of Nelson in September.