Jack Stokes secured a maiden win in the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship after finishing on top spot of the podium at the Central Machine Hire Otago Rally.
Stokes produced a masterclass performance on Sunday to dominate the second day after a ding-dong battle between brother Robbie Stokes and Jack Hawkeswood on the opening day.
Stokes (Stokes Motorsport Skoda Fabia Rally 2) finished one minute 34 ahead of Hawkeswood (Force Motorsport Toyota Yaris Rally 2). Hawkeswood had been penalised on Saturday by two minutes for checking in early at service.
“It means everything – it has been months and months, so many hours you do,” Stokes said.
“Such an awesome job and so grateful to be in a position like this.
“I certainly made a few mistakes – we definitely got lucky a couple of times. The car has been faultless; the team has been faultless.”
Robbie Stokes (Stokes Motorsport Skoda Fabia Rally 2) had been in the thick of the battle before a suspension failure on a touring section saw him temporarily withdraw.
He was able to rejoin and grabbed the maximum power stage points after winning the iconic Kuri Bush stage.
Quentin Palmer (Skoda Fabia Rally 2) completed the podium in third place.
Japan’s Fuyukiha Takahashi (Ford Fiesta) topped Spaniard Edgar Lopez (Suzuki Swift) in the NZRC 2WD class.
Ari Pettigrew secured a brilliant win in the Open 2WD class in his Porsche 911 and was the leading 2WD competitor and third overall.
He led home Tim Mackersy (Ford Fiesta) and Dave Strong (Honda Jazz).
Phil Macquarie completed a solid drive in his Ford Escort to take the win in the Historic 2WD class ahead of Mike Cameron (Mitsubishi Lancer).
Deane Buist (Ford Escort) completed another superb drive to take out the very first class win in the Classics class ahead of Derek Ayson (Opel Manta) and Ben Harding (Mazda RX7).
The next round is at Canterbury on King’s Birthday Weekend.
NZ Rally Championship Results Rnd 1 – Otago Rally
(Pos, Driver 1/Driver 2, Car)
1/ Jack Stokes/Hayden Graves, Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo
2/ Jack Hawkeswood/Jason Farmer, Toyota GR Yaris Rally2
3/ Quentin Palmer/Noel Moloney, Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo
4/ Ari Pettigrew/Jack Norris, Porsche 911
5/ Deane Buist/Karl Celeste, Ford Escort RS1800
6/ Tim Mackersy/Lauren Mackersy, Ford Fiesta Rally4
7/ Toby Price/Larisa Biggar, Toyota GR Yaris Cup
8/ Pierre-Henri/Brunet Sean Lockyear, Skoda Fabia RS Rally2
9/ Derek Ayson/Catriona Kelly, Opel Manta 400
10/ Dave Strong/Rob Scott, Honda Jazz RS
11/ Ben Harding/Charlotte Harding, Mazda RX7
12/ Nelson Law/Antonio Korikalo, Toyota Yaris AP4
13/ Paul Cross/Janey Blair, Toyota Corolla AE86
14/ Duncan McCrostie/Greg Fitzgerald, VW Polo Proto
15/ Stumpy Holmes/Kevin Vince, Ford Escort
16/ Roger McKay/Dean McCrostie, Ford Escort Mk2 BDA
17/ Phil Macquarie/Andrew Brooks, Ford Escort RS1800
18/ Fuyuhiko Takahashi/Ken Takahashi, Ford Fiesta Rally4
19/ Edgar Vigo Lopez/Fatima Ameneiro, Suzuki Swift Sport
20/ Pat Norris/Geoff Parr, Toyota Corolla AE86
21/ Mike Cameron/Helen Cameron, Mitsubishi Lancer
dnf Robbie Stokes/Andy Sarandis, Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo
dnf Dylan Thomson/Bayden Thomson, Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo
dnf Tim McIver/Rocky Hudson, Ford Escort
dnf Mark Parsons/Mal Clark, Triumph TR7 V8
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