A dead rubber for some, but interest still soaring

Five rounds in, and with the title already decided, you’d be forgiven for thinking that interest in this weekend’s Raglan Rally of the Coast could be wavering.

But nothing could be further from the truth, with one of the most competitive fields assembled this year ready to take on the event’s stages, including the famous Whaanga Coast.

After his strong result in Wales, Hayden Paddon is back to lead the pack in his factory Hyundai i20 AP4+, but much of the interest will be in the race for the remaining podium places in the New Zealand Rally Championship.

Ben Hunt seems to have a stranglehold on second spot in his Subaru WRX, but third placed Josh Marston (Holden Barina AP4) on 84 points is just a solitary point ahead of Aussie Nathan Quinn, with Matt Summerfield in his Subaru another point further back.

Interestingly, Quinn will drive his fifth different car from his five events in this year’s series. The 2017 Australian Champion has driven Ford Fiesta R5, Ford Fiesta Proto, Mitsubishi Evo 8 and a Peugeot 208 Proto.

Thanks to the generosity of rival Ben Hunt, a Subaru Impreza WRX (Hunt’s second car, and the one he drove at the recent Far North Rally) will be added to that list.

The competitiveness of the NZRC continues to blossom, with three R5-spec cars on the 74 car entry list.

Raana Horan will again run his recently purchased Skoda Fabia, while the sister car has been sent to New Zealand from Australia and will be driven by Kingsley Jones.

Former New Zealand champion, Neil Allport, will take the wheel of the Ford Fiesta R5 that he owns, but which has recently been driven by Max Bayley.

Add into the mix the likes of Dylan Turner (Audi AP4), Phil Campbell (Fiesta AP4+) and Emma Gilmour in her Suzuki Swift Maxi, and it promises to be a worthy season finale.

The only downers came early this week when Australian star, and multiple NZRC round winner Brendan Reeves, had to withdraw his entry in Force Motorsport’s second Mazda 2 AP4 after the car was sold.

Reigning NZ Champion, Andrew Hawkeswood, has also withdrawn his entry in the team’s sister Mazda 2 AP4.

As usual, rally fans will be able to watch live streams of the action via the NZRC Facebook page.