RallySport Magazine April 2017

REPORT: 2017 OTAGO RALLY - NZRC 1
Ben Hunt, Subaru WRX STI.
time a massive 40 seconds off
the pace, meaning he would
settle into third place.
Leaving the final service,
teams had four stages to
negotiate, but still there were
stings in the tail.
First to fall victim was
Inkster, who retired from
fourth with engine failure,
promoting Featherstone and
Cox into the top five, although
Cox would limp home with
a sick sounding centre
differential.
With the final results more
or less settled, the Power
Stage saw Featherstone
take top points, heading off
Summerfield by just a tenth of
2017 Stadium Cars Otago Classic Rally
1. David Holder / Jason Farmer Hyundai AP4+ 2:48:38.0
2. Andrew Hawkeswood / Jeff Cress Mazda 2 AP4 +0:45.9
3. Rhys Gardner / Ally MacKay Mazda 2 AP4 +2:03.4
4. Graham Featherstone / Dave Devonport Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 7 +3:03.5
5. Sloan Cox / Sarah Coatsworth Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X +4:02.7
6. Regan Ross / Lisa Hudson Ford Escort RS1800 +4:53.1
7. Dylan Turner / Malcolm Read Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9 +5:06.4
8. Ben Hunt / Tony Rawstorn Subaru Impreza WRX +5:30.0
9. Deane Buist / Karl Celeste Ford Escort Mk2 +6:19.4
10. Dave Strong / Bruce McKenzie Ford Fiesta S2000 +8:45.4
34 | RALLYSPORT MAGAZINE - APRIL 2017
a second, while Hawkeswood,
Holder and Ben Hunt took the
remaining bonus points.
But nothing would stop
Holder taking victory,
45.9 seconds ahead of
Hawkeswood, who was left
ruing his 50 second time
penalty, while Gardner’s NZRC
return netted a solid third on
his home event.
The NZRC two-wheel drive
class saw Thomson take
the win over MacLean and
Tregilgas, who was fortunate
to overhaul Stokes when he hit
a rock.
Open two-wheel drive
went the way of Jones, with
Williamson in second after
Josh Marston, Holden Barina.
Ward failed to finish with computer
problems.
Historics saw Ross take a dominant
victory, but he was forced to concede
for the outright classic rally by just 10
seconds to Martin, with Silcock second
after van Klink rolled, and Tony Gosling
was lucky to survive a fifth gear spin on
Kuri Bush to take third.
While Holder and Hawkeswood
hold a distinct advantage as the series
heads to round two, the format of the
Whangarei event is up there as the
most challenging of the season.
Keep an eye out for the report
next issue - the New Zealand Rally
Championpship pis just warming up!