First round honours to Palmer at Ruarangi Rd Rallysprint

Quentin Palmer (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) has taken first round honours at the 2025Hawkeswood Mining North Island Rally Series (NIRS) which got underway on Sunday 11 May 2025 with the Ruarangi Rd Rallysprint run by the Northland Car Club. Phil Campbell (Ford Fiesta AP4) finished runner up gaining valuable points for defending his 2023 and 2024 NIRS title, with Ben Huband (Subaru Impreza) third.

***Phil Campbell (Ford Fiesta AP4) finished runner up gaining valuable points for defending his 2024 NIRS title – photo Hubert van der Linde***

“It’s been a surprising day,” commented Palmer who recently switched from his older Mitsubishi Evo 5 to the Skoda Fabia. “I didn’t think we’d win first time out in this car. I thought Phil (Campbell) would be gone but he wasn’t, and I found myself on top of the timesheets.”

Competitors faced four timed runs over the 7.0km Ruarangi Rd, Mangapai Rallysprint course (South of Whangarei) in a South to North anticlockwise direction.

***Ben Huband (Subaru Impreza) won Class G (4WD 2001 and over) and finished third overall – photo Hubert van der Linde***

“It was a very fast cool piece of road, quite cresty and one that rewards the brave,” said Palmer. “The new car is a new level above what I was previously used to. Its driveability is fantastic, and it goes, stops, and turns incredibly well. There is certainly more speed and time in there once I get more used to it.”

Charlie Evans (Mazda RX7) won Class D (2WD 2001xx and over) and finished fifth overall – photo Hubert van der Linde

Tony Young (Datsun 1200) took out Class A (2WD 0-1300cc), while Mike Goldsbury (Toyota Corolla) was fastest in Class B (2WD 1301-1600cc).

John Whooley (Honda Civic) finished ahead of Kieran Comelius (Nissan Pulsar) in Class C (2WD 1601-2000) and in Class D (2WD 2001 and over) Charlie Evans (Mazda RX7) had a commanding win ahead of Jeff Torkington (Toyota MR2) and finished fourth overall.

***Kyle Percival (Ford Escort Mk2) won the Classic Class E – photo Hubert van der Linde***

In the Classic Class E, Kyle Percival (Ford Escort Mk2) finished ahead of Nick Flanagan (Peugeot 205). Palmer also picked up Class F (4WD 1601-2000) honours from Campbell while third overall Ben Huband (Subaru Impreza) won Class G (4WD 2001 and over) ahead of Dave Strong (Ford Fiesta S2000) who both competed in the NZ Rally Championship round, South Canterbury Rally, the day before in the mid-Canterbury region. Having flown back to the North Island on Saturday evening, Huband finished third overall and Strong finished fourth overall and benefiting from their extra seat time.

***Mike Goldsbury (Toyota Corolla) was fastest in Class B (2WD 1301-1600cc) – photo Hubert van der Linde***

Bradley Stewart (Subaru Impreza) all the way from Danniverke took out Class I (4WD Pre 1996) ahead of Chris Burke (Toyota Celica).

Drivers and teams now prepare for their first tarmac event of the season. The SBT Group Taranaki Tarmac Rally have their entries open and is timed to go on 12 July 2025 based in New Plymouth.

***Quentin Palmer was quick in the first outing of his new Skoka Fabia Rally2 Evo – photo Stanley Mans***

North Island Rally Series Overall Points
1/ Quentin Palmer 40
2/ Phil Campbell 34
3/ Ben Huband 30
4/ Dave Strong 27
5/ Charlie Evans 24
6/ Jay Pittams 22
7/ William Menzies 20
8/ Carlin Leong 18
9/ Bradley Stewart 16
10/ Mike Goldsbury 14
11/ Kyle Percival 12
12/ Tony Young 10
13/ John Whooley 8
14/ Phillip Broadbent 7
15/ Jeff Torkington 6
16/ Kieran Cornelius 5
17/ Peter Farrell 4
18/ Graeme Barr 3
19/ Nick Flanagan 2
20/ Chris Subritzky 1