Ashley Forest Rallysprint set to go this weekend

The annual Ashley Forest Rallysprint is set to go this weekend, 21-22 September 2024, in North Canterbury.  Run by the RATEC motorsport club, the event has attracted a large field with some top competition.

Last year’s winner, Hayden Paddon (Hyundai Kona EV), makes a return as does his rival Sloan Cox (Mitsubishi Evo Hillclimb Special) in the Unlimited 4WD Class.

NZ Rally Championship competitor Emma Gilmour has entered her Citroen C3 Rally2 in Class 5 while Steve Cox brings south his new Audi Quattro S2 Tribute Group B rally car to compete in the Unlimited 4WD Class 6.

The rallysprint is run in an elimination format with up to four qualifying runs for each competitor followed by an elimination for the top 32, then the top 16, top eight, four and then the top two.

Seven different classes are eligible to compete on the 1.7 km gravel road course in the Ashley Forest.

Class 1 (0-1300cc 2WD), Class 2 (1301-1600cc 2WD), Class 3 (Classic 2WD (as per Otago Rally regulations), Class 4 (Unlimited 2WD), Class 5 (Rally 4WD), Class 6 (Unlimited 4WD) and Class 7 (Cross Cars) – which will run in their own group with a top three run-off.

A drivers’ briefing takes place first thing Saturday morning at 8am. Gates, on the Mount Grey Road, open to the public at 8am each day with day or weekend passes available to purchase (Eftpos available at the gate).