While Hayden Paddon and Raana Horan (main photo) battled for the 2023 Brian Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC) overall title, back in the Battery Town Rally Bay of Plenty field were important outcomes to be decided for the different NZRC categories.
While Shane van Gisbergen (Audi AP4) finished second in the rally, Horan (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) was to finish second overall in the Championship with Ben Hunt (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) third, giving Hayden Paddon (Hyundai i20N Rally2) his seventh national title.
Dylan Thomson (Ford Fiesta) was first home in the FIA 2WD category at the Bay of Plenty Rally to secure the 2023 Class after an unfamiliar mistake at the penultimate Daybreaker Rally. Second was Bryn Jones with Tim MacKersy third.
Local driver JP van der Meys (Ford Fiesta) won the Open 2WD class after Dan Haines (Ford Escort) succumbed to a mechanical failure. Haines was still able to win the championship for the second successive season.
Youngster Zeal Jones edged Jeff Ward – both in Subaru WRXs – to win the 4WD Rally Challenge class by one-point in what has been an edge-of-your-seat battle all season between the pair.
Whakatane local Jono Shapley (Toyota Vitz) was first home over the weekend ahead of fellow Bay of Plenty driver Sam Byrne (Mitsubishi Lancer) in the Rally Challenge 2WD class. Jared Parker (Toyota Corolla) pipped Brett Maddren (Toyota Starlet) for third taking the Rally Challenge 2WD title.
John Silcock (Mazda Group B RX7) tied up the Historic Rally Challenge title at the Daybreaker Rally and sat out the final round. Second in the category was Stewart Reid (Mazda RX7) with Mike Cameron third (Mitsubishi Lancer).
Amy Keighley took out the Group A 4WD Challenge in her Subaru H6 ahead of Tim Smith (Subaru H6) and Paul Cross (Subaru H6).
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