Hunt wins at Waitomo, Campbell is NI Rally Series champion

Tauranga driver Phil Campbell (Ford Fiesta AP4) has won the 2023 Winmax Brakepads North Island Rally Series, coming home first of the series competitors in the Newstead Lodge Clubmans Rally held on Sunday around Piopio in the Waitomo District.

It was a great end to the season for Campbell, who had chosen to take a break from the high pressure of the NZ Rally Championship, and in doing so has reignited his enthusiasm for the sport. After finishing second to Clint Cunningham on the opening round, Campbell has been on the top step of the podium for the rest of the season.

The outright victory went to Ben Hunt (Skoda Fabia Rally 2) who led all four Special Stages to take the rally win by just over a minute from Campbell.

Young star in the making Zeal Jones followed Campbell home in his older Subaru Impreza. Jones, who has just won the NZRC Rally Challenge category for 2023, was using the event to gain more experience for 2024. It is a result which underlines his talent, and caps off a year in which he topped the New Zealand Motorsport Academy

Charlie Evans finished fourth overall and top two-wheel drive competitor in his Mazda RX7. His familiarity with the stages was helpful, but he had to drive hard to stay ahead of Kingsly Jones, who finished fifth in his Skoda Fabia R5

Joining Campbell as North Island Rally series winner is Mike Goldsbury in second and Clint Cunningham third overall just one-point back.

“The NIRS has had a successful inaugural year with 120 registered competitors, and created a level of competition between Clubsport and the NZ Rally Championship which has been missing in the North Island,” says NIRS coordinator Marty Roestenburg.