Canterbury’s Chris McLean (21) is about to take on the New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) in the Ford Fiesta he has spent all summer preparing. Chris and navigator Sarah Brennan will take on New Zealand’s best Rally Drivers staring with the Rally of Otago on 8th and 9th April, followed by 5 further events during the year.
Chris McLean grew up in Governors Bay on Lyttleton Harbour and spent much of his youth with a pair of skis under him, in summer on the harbour and in winter on snow. He was introduced to rallying when he worked at Magnum Compliance in Christchurch with a bunch of rally people. There he learnt the workings of car preparation and caught the rally bug. Now a beekeeper, McLean is a rookie in the NZRC for 2017 and will compete for the 2WD and Junior NZRC Championship titles.
McLean has so far competed in a handful of South Island events but already has been noticed as someone with strong potential in the sport. McLean was selected to receive training with the Hyundai NZ and Hayden Paddon scholarship. He has also received training from a bunch of Motorsport experts including Paddon and John Kennard, along with fitness experts and media people. Chris and Sarah have also both received some financial help from Hayden’s Paddon Foundation.
While McLean is new to the championship, navigator Sarah Brennan (25) has had several years in the NZRC and has won the 2WD Championship twice previously navigating for Christchurch’s Hamish Anderson. “Sarah brings really valuable experience” Chris says, “She knows what she’s doing calling Pace Notes, but also how all the procedures work. Having been to these events before means Sarah will be a huge help in my NZRC Rookie year”
The 2005 Ford Fiesta Chris McLean now owns has a big history. The car launched the career of 2015 NZRC Champion Ben Hunt who won the drive in the car in 2009 as part of a scholarship. “The car is older but proven, and we have put in a lot of new parts to ensure it should run reliably all season” commented Chris.
Kayne Barrie built the Fiesta (rego FUE4) back in 2008. It has been used to chase the 2WD Championship by quite a who’s who of Rallying. Brendon Reeves ran the car before it went to Hunt, then Ben Barker followed by Josh Marston. 2016 NZ Rally Champion David Holder ran the 2013 NZRC season in the car. Louise Cook of the UK also used the car at the last Rally NZ in 2012. Most recently the car was owned by Ben Grundy. Kayne Barrie has continued to be involved with the car. Chris is grateful for Kayne’s advice on preparing the car “Kayne has been great – taking my calls for advice at all hours of the night”
The team plan to compete in at least 5 of the six rounds in the 2017 NZRC. The team have help from a lot of Christchurch people, including James Marshall who helps with the mechanical work and provides some specialist brake parts. Jeff Judd, Mark Smith and the boys at Magnum have also provided help and encouragement, while Tony Gosling of Stadium Finance has also provided some support.
2017 will be a learning year for the team “we hope to make the podium in 2WD, but we will be up against a lot of good drivers in good cars, many of who have a lot more experience than us” said Chris ”If we can get on the podium regularly then that will be a win for us in 2017”.
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