Buist claims Mainland Rally Championship title after double round weekend

Deane Buist (Ford Escort) has come out on top winning the overall 2024 Mainland Rally Championship (MRC) title after the completion of the final two rounds over the weekend. Having won the (Mainland Series) Rally of North Canterbury on Saturday, Buist (main photo) finished runner up to Marcus van Klink (Mazda RX7 Group B) in the Westland Rally on Sunday. Second overall was Robbie Stokes (Ford Escort) with van Klink third followed by James Worker (Mitsubishi Evo 6) and Dylan Thomson (Ford Fiesta R2).

Stokes led the series heading into the weekend, 17-points ahead of Buist but a sixth and fourth placed him just four-points behind at the end.

***Second overall was Robbie Stokes (Ford Escort) – photo Terry Marshall***

Stokes was the top MRC car in the opening two events, Otago Rally (April) and the South Canterbury Rally (May) while van Klink came home first in Rally Canterbury (June). It was Mark McMilan (Subaru Impreza WRX) who took maximum points at the Wyndham Rally (August). Meanwhile Buist continued to gather points finishing strongly with a win and a second place in the last two rounds. For overall results, it is the best five of the six round series.

**Mike Matheson (Toyota Vitz) won Class A (0-1300cc) – photo Terry Marshall**

The battle for seven different MRC Class titles were also decided with the best four results of the six rounds. Mike Matheson (Toyota Vitz) won Class A (0-1300cc) from Pat Norris (Toyota Yaris) and Josh Silcock (Toyota Starlet). Matheson’s co-driver Gordon Legge was top co-driver in the class.

Jack Stokes (Ford Fiesta) edged out Harri Silcock (Toyota Starlet) in Class B (1301-1600cc) by just 12-points with Sarah Faulkner the top co-driver in class.

**Jack Stokes (Ford Fiesta) won Class B (1301-1600cc) – photo Terry Marshall**

Deane Buist’s and Marcus van Klink were tied first in Class C (1601cc and over) with Buist given first due to his competing in five rounds versus van Klink’s four. Toby Marsh was the top co-driver in class as well as winning the overall Co-Drivers Championship Trophy.

While he may have missed the first three rounds, James Worker picked up enough points in Class D (4WD) to win the title from Caleb MacDonald with Gemma Thomas top co-driver in class.

**James Worker picked up enough points in Class D (4WD) to win the class title – photo Terry Marshall**

Shane McKenzie (Mitsubishi Galant) was first home in the North Canterbury Rally, in Class E (Pre 2000 4WD), giving him enough points to claim the title ahead Nigel Ede (Subaru Legacy RS). Mark Grimmer picked up the co-drivers’ award in class.

A dnf for Ally Mackay (Ford Escort Mk1) in the penultimate round on Saturday gave Stephen Gill (Ford Escort Mk2) the advantage in Class F (Classic 2WD), sealing the title after the Westland Rally with his co-driver Grant Molloy taking top spot as well.

***Shane McKenzie (Mitsubishi Galant) was first in Class E (Pre 2000 4WD) – photo Terry Marshall***

Amy Keighley (Subaru) and Tom Milliken (Subaru) continued their battle in Class H6 with Keighley first home in both rounds and taking the title. Milliken’s co-driver, Chris Cunningham, picked up the Class co-driver award.

The 2024 Mainland Rally Championship has the support of RDL Performance, Brita Safety Ltd, Palmside NZ Ltd, Christchurch Building and Decorating Ltd, Thomson Rust and Repair Services Ltd, Rally Drive NZ.

**In Class H6 Amy Keighley was first home in both rounds and taking the title – photo Terry Marshall**

Overall Points after 6/6 Rounds (Top 15)
1/ Deane Buist 119
2/ Robbie Stokes 115
3/ Marcus van Klink 106
4/ James Worker 91
5/ Dylan Thomson 78
6/ Stephen Gill 70
7/ Amy Keighley 64
8/ Ally Mackay 63
9/ Jack Stokes 61
10/ Caleb MacDonald 56
11/ William Hawes 50
12= Shane McKenzie 49
12= Mark McMillan 49
14/ Tom Milliken 48
15/ Harri Silcock 44

Rally North Canterbury – Mainland Rally Championship Results (Pos, Driver/Driver, Car, Class)
1/ Deane Buist/Tim McIver, Ford Escort Mk2, C
2/ James Worker/Mags Marshall, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6, D
3/ Marcus van Klink/Toby Marsh, Mazda RX7, C
4/ Dylan Thomson/Richard Fairhall, Ford Fiesta 2.3, C
5/ Jack Stokes/Sarah Faulkner, Ford Fiesta R2, B
6/ Robbie Stokes/Amy Stokes, Ford Escort, C
7/ Shane Mckenzie/Sean Sands, Mitsubishi VR4, E
8/ Stephen Gill/Grant Molloy, Ford Escort, F
9/ Amy Keighley/Grant Marra, Subaru Magnum H6, H
10/ Dave Ollis/Gemma Thomas, Subaru WRX, D
11/ Hayden Shakespeare/Chris Sunman, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3, E
12/ Willy Hawes/Jason Dwyer, Toyota 86, C
13/ Harri Silcock/Mark Greenwood, Toyota Starlet, B
14/ Karl Celeste/Andy Oakley, Toyota Levin, B
15/ Tom Milliken/Chris Cunningham, Subaru Impreza H6, H
16/ Josh Silcock/Donna Elder, Toyota Starlet, A
17/ Daph O’Rourke/Terri Taylor, Ford Fiesta R2, B
18/ Mike MathesonGordon Legge, Toyota Vitz, A
19/ Brian Green/Brianna Little, Ford Escort, F
20/ Nigel Ede/Mark Grimmer, Subaru Legacy, E
21/ Pat Norris/Kevin Cooke, Toyota Yaris, A
22/ Kevin Brockie/Darryl McManus, Toyota Vitz, A
dnf Ally Mackay/Keir Beaton, Ford Escort Mk1, F
dnf Jak Elliott/Blair Brosnan, Toyota Echo, A

Westland Rally – Mainland Rally Championship Results
(Pos, Driver/Driver, Car, Class)
1/ Marcus van Klink/Toby Marsh, Mazda RX7, C
2/ Deane Buist/Tim McIver, Ford Escort Mk2, C
3/ James Worker/Mags Marshall, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6, D
4/ Robbie Stokes/Amy Stokes, Ford Escort, C
5/ Dylan Thomson/Richard Fairhall, Ford Fiesta 2.3, C
6/ Stephen Gill/Grant Molloy, Ford Escort, F
7/ Ally Mackay/Keir Beaton, Ford Escort Mk1, F
8/ Amy Keighley/Grant Marra, Subaru Magnum H6, H
9/ Harri Silcock/Mark Greenwood, Toyota Starlet, B
10/ Willy Hawes/Jason Dwyer, Toyota 86, C
11/ Karl Celeste/Andy Oakley, Toyota Levin, B
12/ Josh Silcock/Donna Elder, Toyota Starlet, A
13/ Mike Matheson/Gordon Legge, Toyota Vitz, A
14/ Tom Milliken/Chris Cunningham, Subaru Impreza H6, H
15/ Brian Green/Brianna Little, Ford Escort, F
16/ Pat Norris/Kevin Cooke, Toyota Yaris, A
17/ Nigel Ede/Mark Grimmer, Subaru Legacy, E
dnf Hayden Shakespeare/Chris Sunman, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 3, E