Nelson racer Nevil Basalaj has overcome huge odds to win the final southern round of the 2015 ENZED Offroad Racing Championship, the Ruff’n’Tuff 250 in Hancock Forest near Dovedale.
His greatest challenges, though, lay in simply getting to the race. He had to jump flights in from Papua New Guinea after his bookings were disrupted, then make a dash on the morning of the race from Nelson Airport southwest to the track, suit up and post a qualifying sprint. An understeering moment at the qualifying turnaround cost him precious seconds and dropped him to fifth off the start line.
But from the moment the green flag was waved, Basalaj owned the 250 km endurance race backed by Greg Winn
He still had to contend with a caution for excessive speed through the slow-down area at the pit entry, and also pitted to change a flat left rear tyre mid-race, but Basalaj was not to be denied.
His in-class rivals in the Achilles Radial unlimited class crashed or found they were unable to stay close to the Jimco on the slippery 42 km course.
“It was a great course, very technical which meant I was always busy, the car was great and went strongly all day. It was hard work in the tight stuff for sure,” he said afterward.
Race sponsor Greg Winn stepped up from third overall last year to be second in 2015 in his RV Magnum Toyota.
Tim George was third overall and first in the Polaris sponsored UTV class.
Production 4WD class honours went to Steven Boyd, who finished 12th overall after rolling his Suzuki Escudo. Ron Crosby had started 20th, risen to 16th overall then was slowed when he suffered a flat tyre not far into the third lap. He continued on, destroying the tyre and rim, pitted and rejoined the race and finished second in production class.
Josh Rutledge won class five for car with engines up to 1.3 litres.
Defending champion Owen Chang upheld Canterbury honours by winning the unlimited truck class to advance to the finals with maximum points.
Victory hands Basalaj the southern regional title and sends him to November’s final round of the 2015 ENZED Offroad Racing Championship with maximum points.
Top ten, Greg Winn Contracting and Hire Now Ruff’n’Tuff 250
1 Nevil Basalaj
2 Greg Winn
3 Tim George
4 Shayne Huxtable
5 Wayne Moriarty
6 Roger McKay (Taupo)
7 Grant Dickson
8 Bob Uttridge
9 Josh Rutledge
10 Rosco Gaudin
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