Rally Challenge 2WD championship leader Rory Lawn heads north to the Vertex Lubricants International Rally of Whangarei looking to open the gap up to rival Josh Silcock by a handful of points.
Lawn leads Silcock in what has been a fantastic battle all season by just one point heading to the penultimate round of the Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship.
Silcock won’t make the trip north, opting to take advantage of the scoring system which sees competitors take their three best scores through the opening five rounds plus the championship finale at Bay of Plenty next month.
“The battle with Josh has been tight all year,” Lawn said. “We’ve been pushing each other on and setting some good times. It has been good fun.
“It is great to have the battle go down to the wire and to be honest I have no expectations. There are still two events to get through and there will be a worthy winner regardless.”
Lawn has banked 84 of a possible 90 through the three rounds he has contested. Ideally, he would claim a maximum 30 – a class win and the maximum five power stage points – to open the gap up to Silcock to seven points going to Bay of Plenty.
But in addition to getting that extra helping hand in the championship standings, this trip north is also about gaining experience for the talented youngster.
“I have zero experience of Whangarei; I’ve never been north or Auckland and never rallied outside the South Island,” Lawn explained.
“Expecting cambered roads…and shagged tyres from what I’ve been told.
“It is also another weekend’s craic in the car with Matty [co-driver Matt Sayers], more seat time and experience on the Northland raods. …and hopefully stay on the road!”
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