Strong start predicted for Rally Championship

The Vantage New Zealand Rally Championship is tipped for an exciting season following the confirmation of top-talent drivers to the five-round series.

 

Starting in early April at the Tomoana Warehousing Rally Hawke’s Bay (4-5 April), the championship concludes at the 0800 Boxman Rally of Nelson (19-20 September).

 

Returning to defend his title, Geraldine’s Hayden Paddon heads the field that incorporates a larger number of two-wheel drive cars to the series – including the recently announced winner of the Rally New Zealand Rising Stars Scholarship, Ben Hunt (20).  Awarded second place in the scholarship, fellow Nelson driver Daniel Harris (18) is entered to the opening round with four-wheel drive rookies’ Kingsley Thompson, Matt Jansen, Kieran Hall and Josh Marston all confirmed.

 

Vantage Aluminium Joinery New Zealand Rally Championship co-ordinator Laurie Brenssell says the depth of talent vying for honours reinforces the health and prestige of the national title.

 

 “We’ve got four brand new faces to the group one four-wheel-drive championship and good strong numbers in the two-wheel drive field.”

 

“Inside the Ford Fiesta line-up are the two guys who got first and second in the new Rising Stars rally scholarship – so we are going to see a furious battle and I think that’s going to be the highlight of the championship.  Kiwi-2 has some familiar faces along with some new ones – so it has grown in number.”

 

“There is some promising talent in the new group along with support from our stars like Emma Gilmour, Hayden Paddon and Richard Mason – so in reality we’ve got a fantastic opportunity and a wonderful championship season ahead of us.”

 

With indications that others will join the series at a later stage, Brenssell adds the level of competition amongst the more experienced competitors will ensure the season starts at full-swing: “I would say we’ve got one of the strongest championship fields chasing for the title.  In particular with Emma and Hayden having a very full on programme that includes the Asia Pacific Rally Championship, there is going to be a tremendous amount of interest and colour in the Vantage New Zealand Rally Championship .  Given these tough economic times we’re in I think we’re going to see one of the best championship’s ever.”

 

Ends.

 

VANTAGE ALUMINIUM JOINERY 2009 NEW ZEALAND RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

 

1 4-5 April 2009 Rally of Hawke's Bay 

2 16-17 May 2009 Rally of Otago 

3 6-7 June 2009 Rally of Whangarei *

4 18-19 July 2009 Rally Wairarapa 

5 19-20 September 2009 Rally of Nelson

 

* FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship

 

Current NZRC entry list (as at 18 March 2009)

 

Group N - 4WD

  Drivers Name Co Driver Name Car

1 Josh Marston Raymond Bennett Mits Evo 8

2 Dean Sumner Paul Fallon Mits Evo 9

3 Hayden Paddon John Kennard Mits Evo 9

4 Chris West Garry Cowan  

5 Matt Jansen Jason Farmer Subaru Impreza

6 Kieran Hall Peter Hart Subaru Impreza

7 Emma Gilmour Tarryn Cox Subaru Impreza

8 Kingsley Thompson Richard Ellis Mits Evo 10

9 Richard Mason Sara Mason Subaru Impreza

10 Sloan Cox David Calder Mits Evo 10

   

Group N - 2WD

  Drivers Name Co Driver Name Car

1 Ben Jagger Ben Hawkins Ford Fiesta

2 Patrick Malley Malcolm Read Ford Fiesta

3 Ben Hunt Ford Fiesta

4 Daniel Harris Ford Fiesta

5 Dominic Unterberger Ford Fiesta

Kiwi 2 (2WD)

  Drivers Name Co Driver Name Car

1 Matt Summerfield Dave Neill Skoda Fabia

2 Dave Strong Bruce McKenzie Honda Civic

3 Reg Cook Mark Ballantyne Nissan Micra

4 Tony Foster Lisa Hudson Ford Fiesta

Open Class 4WD

  Drivers Name Co Driver Name Car

1 Glenn Inkster Glenn Goldring Mits Evo 6

2 Alex Kelsey Dale Perry Subaru Impreza

3 Lee Stringer Chris Davison  

Open Class 2WD

  Drivers Name Co Driver Name Car

1 Marcus Van Klink Matt Richards Toyota AE86

   

CLASSIC CHALLENGE TROPHY

  Drivers Name Co Driver Name Car

1 Rob Wylie Paul Turner Nissan 240 RS

2 Mike Cameron Helen Cameron Mits Lancer

3 Euan Fuge Donna Elder Mazda RX 3

 

Tomoana Warehousing Rally Hawke's Bay website: www.hbcarclub.co.nz/rally_hb.html

For further information: www.motorsport.org.nz/Rally or www.vantage.co.nz