Marston beats rivals for Mainland Rally Championship Rnd 2 win in South Canterbury

Josh Marston and Andrew Graves have finished the second round of the 2025 Mainland Rally Championship (MRC) on top of the podium after completing eight Special Stages of the South Canterbury Rally on Saturday. Marston (Holden Barina AP4) beat home Round 1 winner, Robbie Stokes/Shane Reynolds (Skoda Fabia Rally 2 Evo) with Caleb MacDonald/Larisa Biggar (Mitsubishi Lance Evo 6) in third.

“It’s been a great day,” said Marston. “The car was fantastic; the team did a great job and ‘Duggie’ (Andrew Graves) did a great job. At one stage we hit a big rock that pushed the sump right in which the boys were able to sort at service.

“Confidence and jelling with Duggie in the car have been the key to being fast. The roads down here are really fast, so you have to be on it and we were able to set a good pace from the start and kept going.”

***Robbie Stokes and Shane Reynolds (Skoda Fabia Rally 2 Evo) – photo Euan Cameron***

The rally also doubled as the second round of the New Zealand Rally Championship which saw Marston finish second to Ben Hunt (Skoda Rally2 Evo) with Stokes in third. Overall winner of the event was Hayden Paddon/Jared Hudson (Hyundai i20N AP4) competing in the Allcomers category.

Marston was the fastest MRC car through the opening Kakahu Forest Special Stage which proved to be a decisive win putting nearly a minute on Stokes and a lead he defended throughout the day.

Three other Special Stage wins for Marston kept Stokes at bay who also won a total of four stages.

***Josh Silcock/Ben Leech (Toyota Starlet) continue to lead Class A (2WD 0-1300cc) – photo Terry Marshall***

“It hasn’t been ideal,” said Stokes. “There’s some issue that we don’t quite know yet. The gears aren’t working properly. We’ll take the third and some good points although it’s not really how we want to get on the podium.”

The expected battle between the Stokes brothers didn’t come to fruition with Jack Stokes/Hayden Graves (Ford Fiesta AP4) battling an overheating issue right from the opening stage which eventuated in retiring from the event.

***Ian Warren/Brody Cattermole (Nissan Pulsar) won Class B (2WD 1601 and over) – photo Terry Marshall***

Seven separate Class battles also took place over the day. Josh Silcock/Ben Leech (Toyota Starlet) continue to lead Class A (2WD 0-1300cc) beating home Mike Matheson/Gordon Legge (Toyota Vitz).

Class B (2WD 1601cc and over) leaders Thomas Paul/Bridget Airey (Honda Civic) came in second to Ian Warren/Brody Cattermole (Nissan Pulsar) while it was Marcus van Klink/Dave Neill (Mazda RX8) who beat home Deane Buist in Class C (2WD 1601cc and over). Buist continues to lead Richard Gailey (BMW 320i) with van Klink in third having not competed in the opening round.

***Marcus van Klink and Dave Neill (Mazda RX8) were first home in Class C (2WD 1601cc and over) – photo Terry Marshall***

Robbie Stokes continues to hold the overall MRC lead and has a slim two-point lead in Class D (4WD) to Marston with Caleb MacDonald also in contention holding third.

Stephen Gill (Ford Escort Mk2) has stretched his lead in Class F (Classic 2WD) to ten-points over Paul Cross (Toyota Corolla AE86).

***Stephen Gill (Ford Escort Mk2) has stretched his lead in Class F (Classic 2WD) – photo Euan Cameron***

With Class H6 leaders Tim Smith/Ben Trevelyan (Subaru Impreza) not entered this round, Kevin Laird took the opportunity to take over the lead now with a 16-point advantage.

The next round of the 2025 Mainland Rally Championship is the Lone Star Rally of Canterbury on Sunday 1 June to be held in the North Canterbury region.

**Kevin Laird took the opportunity to take the overall lead in Class H6 – photo Euan Cameron**

The 2025 Mainland Rally Championship has the support of RDL Performance, Brita Safety Ltd, Palmside NZ Ltd, Christchurch Building and Decorating Ltd, Thomson Rust and Repair Services Ltd, Rally Drive NZ.

Overall Points (Top 15) after 2/6 rounds
1/ Robbie Stokes 56
2/ Josh Marston 53
3/ Caleb MacDonald 43
4/ Deane Buist 36
5/ Brian Green 30
6= Jack Stokes 28
6= Kevin Laird 28
8/ Stephen Gill 27
9/ Thomas Paul 25
10= Marcus van Klink 20
10= Richard Galley 20
12/ Tim Smith 17
13= Ben Huband 16
13= Ian Warren 16
15/ Harri Silcock 15

South Canterbury Rally, Round 2 Results
(Position, Driver 1, Driver 2, Car, Class, Class Position)
1/ Josh Marston/ Andrew Graves, Holden Barina AP4, D 1
2/ Robbie Stokes/ Shane Reynolds, Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo, D 2
3/ Caleb MacDonald/ Larisa Biggar, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 6, D 3
4/ Marcus van Klink/ Dave Neill, Mazda RX8, C, 1
5/ Deane Buist/ Karl Celeste, Ford Escort RS1800, C, 2
6/ Kevin Laird/ Aled Jones, Subaru Impreza H6, H, 1
7/ Ben Huband/ Corinne Watson, Subaru Magnum H6, H, 2
8/ Brian Green/ Brianna Little, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, D, 4
9/ Andrew Sim/ Caleb Sim, Ford Escort Mk2, C, 3
10/ Stephen Gill/ Grant Molloy, Ford Escort Mk2, F, 1
11/ Ian Warren/ Brody Cattermole, Nissan Pulsar, B, 1
12/ Andy Martin/ Matt Hayward, Ford Escort RS1800, F, 2
13/ Richard Galley/ Claire Buccini, BMW 320i, C, 4
14/ Thomas Paul/ Bridget Airey, Honda Civic, B, 2
15/ Rory Lawn/ Jack Norris, Toyota Starlet, B, 3
16/ Harri Silcock/ Mark Greenwood, Toyota Starlet, B, 4
17/ Paul Cross/ Ben Trevelyan, Toyota Corolla, F, 3
18/ Josh Silcock/ Ben Leech, Toyota Starlet, A, 1
19/ Mike Matheson/ Gordon Legge, Toyota Vitz, A, 2
20/ Adrian Jones/ Madara Ansica, Toyota Corolla, B, 5
21/ Pat Norris/ Kevin Cooke, Toyota Corolla, F, 4
22/ Kevin Brockie/ Darryl McManus, Toyota Vitz, A, 3
dnf Jack Stokes/ Hayden Graves, Ford Fiesta AP4, D