Rally driver Ari Pettigrew and co-driver Jason Farmer have moved up to third overall in the 2022 Brian Green Property Group New Zealand Rally Championship (NZRC), following round three at the Stadium Finance Rally of South Canterbury. Another great result was achieved with fourth outright by Pettigrew in his first Open 4WD Class season.
The South Canterbury event is known as having the highest speed average for the NZRC season, but that did not worry Pettigree driving the the Manukau Auto Centre Holden Barina AP4. Despite his lack of experience in the class, Pettigrew put up a suite of fast times over the nine-Special Stages.
Twice they took second fastest time behind eventual winner, Hayden Paddon, as well as two third places. After SS6, and with three stages remaining, he was in fourth overall with less than 15-seconds behind third placed Matt Summerfield/Nicole Summerfield. This gap was then halved in the following SS7.
With 22km’s in the penultimate SS8 Pettigrew went into full attack mode and unfortunately halfway through the car faltered, 10km’s from the end.
“Unfortunately the power steering failure slowed us for the last 10km’s,” commented Pettigrew. “Luckily, we managed to do some roadside repairs in time for the quick run around Levels racetrack.”
He was able to hold fourth overall at the completion of the event, enough to move up to third equal in the championship points with Raana Horan (Skoda Fabia R5).
“We are getting more confidence in the car and are able to step up our pace at each event. By the later stages in South Canterbury, we were having a close battle with Ben Hunt and Matt Summerfield and were hopeful of taking third in SS8.
“We do a huge amount of preparation before each rally and the car has run perfectly all season until then (SS7) – which is pleasing given how hard we all treat our cars in the stages”
“We have to be pleased with placing fourth in our third event, as Hayden (Paddon) spent some time with me before the rally giving some tips to improve my driving along with helping to develop the car– and that certainly helped my speed. A big thanks to my boss Hayden. The Paddon Rally Group also helps me prepare the AP4 car and servicing at events and I can’t thank them enough for all the support.”
Next event is the Kennedy Park Resort Rally Hawke’s Bay on Saturday 23rd July. With Paddon now in Europe and not competing at the next NZRC round, it paves the way for his rivals to fight over the outright victory.
After Rally Hawke’s Bay it will be the 2022 Repco Rally New Zealand in late September, a round of the 2022 World Rally Championship, with all drivers competing on the world stage.
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